WO2003032065A1

WO2003032065A1 - Liquid crystal display

Info

Publication number: WO2003032065A1
Application number: PCT/JP2002/010157
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takenobu Asakawa
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2001-10-01
Filing date: 2002-09-30
Publication date: 2003-04-17
Also published as: JP2005257705A

Abstract

A liquid crystal display in which uneven display due to liquid crystal sealant (6) intruding into a display area (A) from a liquid crystal injection path (7) is eliminated by locating the end part of at least one kind of film formed on a pair of substrates (1, 2) between of the end part of the substrates (1, 2) the liquid crystal injection path (7) side and of the end part of the display area (A)the liquid crystal injection path (7) side and forming a level difference of 0.1-20μm between the films (8a, 8b) and the substrates (1, 2). The liquid crystal display is useful as a thin and small display for use in AV/OA apparatus products.

Description

Light

Liquid crystal display

〔Technical field〕

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device.

Thread

Rice field

[Technical background]

Recently, liquid crystal display devices have been widely used as display devices for AV / OA equipment products. In these liquid crystal display devices, miniaturization and compactness are achieved in designing, assembling, circuit mounting, housing or modularization of a liquid crystal display panel including a pair of substrates and the like.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 7 is a side sectional view taken along line VII-VII 'of FIG. The liquid crystal display device of this example is of an active matrix drive type, and FIGS. 6 and 7 show a liquid crystal display element among the components of the liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in a liquid crystal display device, an active matrix substrate (hereinafter, referred to as a TFT array substrate) 101 is opposed to the TFT array substrate 101. A counter substrate 102 is arranged in pairs, and a liquid crystal 4 is sandwiched between the substrates 101 and 102.

The TFT array substrate 101 has an insulating transparent glass substrate 1, and an inner surface of the glass substrate 1 has a wiring layer 201, a protective film 8a, a pixel electrode 202, and an alignment film. 3a are sequentially formed. Although not shown here, the wiring layer 201 includes a plurality of gate lines and source lines, a thin film transistor (TFT) that is a switching element, and an insulating layer that insulates them. You. Partitioned by these gate lines and source lines and including TFT Area constitutes one pixel. A plurality of pixels are formed in a matrix on the TFT array substrate 101, and an aggregate of such pixels constitutes a display area A of the liquid crystal display device. Then, a protective film 8a is formed so as to cover the wiring layer 201 and protect the TFT, and further, a pixel electrode 202 is formed for each pixel on the protective film 8a. The film 3a is formed.

On the other hand, the opposite substrate 102 has an insulating transparent glass substrate 2 and the inner surface of the glass substrate 2 has a color finoletor 203 and a protective film 8 b for protecting the color filter 203. And an ITO 9 as a counter electrode and an alignment film 3b are sequentially formed. The TFT array substrate 1 and the counter substrate 2 are bonded together using a liquid crystal sealing sealant 5. The liquid crystal encapsulating sealant 5 forms a space in which the liquid crystal 4 is injected between the two substrates 101 and 102 so that the liquid crystal 4 does not leak out, and a liquid crystal injection path 7 for injecting the liquid crystal 4 is formed. It is arranged to form. The liquid crystal injection path 7 is sealed by the liquid crystal sealing agent 6 after the liquid crystal 4 is injected into the space.

Here, in order to reduce the size and size of the liquid crystal display device, the ends of the substrates 101 and 102 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side and the end of the display area A on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side are required. The distance b must be designed to be small. However, if the distance b is too small, the liquid crystal sealing agent 6 may flow into the display area A from the liquid crystal injection path 7 when the liquid crystal injection path 7 is sealed as shown in area C. You.

The first problem that occurs when the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 enters the inside of the display area A is that the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 reaches the display area A in the curing process and is cured, so that the liquid crystal 4 inside the display area A is hardened. This hinders the display and causes display unevenness in that part. The second problem is that in the curing step, the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 is not completely cured and mixes with the liquid crystal 4, thereby disturbing the orientation of the liquid crystal 4 and causing display unevenness. Thus, the liquid crystal display device becomes defective due to display unevenness. Therefore, the distance b is long It has to be sufficient (for example, 5 mm), which has hindered the miniaturization of liquid crystal display devices.

[Disclosure of the Invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the related art, and provides a liquid crystal display device that can be reduced in size and compact and that can prevent display unevenness due to a liquid crystal encapsulant. It is intended to provide. In order to achieve these objects, a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a pair of substrates each having at least a film element including an electrode film formed on one main surface; A liquid crystal layer filled with liquid crystal molecules is formed so as to face each other with a gap therebetween, and the gap is formed between each of the electrode films of the pair of substrates in the gap. A liquid crystal sealing portion is formed so as to surround a display area, which is an aggregate of pixels including the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween, and to form a liquid crystal injection path, and is surrounded by the liquid crystal sealing portion. A liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal injection path is sealed with a liquid crystal encapsulant after the liquid crystal molecules are filled from the liquid crystal injection path into the filled space to form the liquid crystal layer. At least one end of the film is the liquid crystal A step is formed between the liquid crystal injection port side end of the stop and the end of the display area, so that a step is formed between the stop and the substrate, and the step is 0.1 lwm or more. 20 zm or less. According to such a configuration, a step of not less than 0.1 μππι and not more than 20 μππι is formed depending on the thickness of the film. Therefore, the step prevents the liquid crystal encapsulant from entering the display area. Becomes possible. In particular, in such a configuration, even if the distance from the liquid crystal injection port side end of the liquid crystal sealing portion to the display area end can be reduced, it is possible to prevent the liquid crystal sealing agent from entering the display area. become _c Therefore, in the liquid crystal display, while achieving excellent display by preventing the occurrence of display unevenness, it is possible to reduce the size and compact of the apparatus. It is preferable that the step is not less than 0.2 μπι and not more than Ομπι. According to this configuration, it is possible to effectively prevent the liquid crystal encapsulant from entering, and at the same time, it is possible to effectively reduce the size and the size of the device.

It is preferable that one end of the film is disposed between the end of the liquid crystal sealing portion on the side of the liquid crystal injection port and the end of the display area.

According to this configuration, the step is formed between the liquid crystal injection port side end of the liquid crystal sealing portion and the display area end, so that the liquid crystal sealing agent does not penetrate from the intermediate region to the back. Is prevented. Therefore, the intrusion of the liquid crystal sealant into the display area located deeper than the intermediate region is more effectively prevented. The step may be formed including at least a protective film. Further, the step may be formed to include the electrode film and the or the alignment film. In such a configuration, since the liquid crystal display element constituting the liquid crystal display device forms a step using a conventionally provided component, display unevenness is prevented easily and at low cost without a significant change in the manufacturing process. Thus, a compact and compact display device can be obtained. In particular, since the protective film is conventionally thicker in structure than the electrode film and the alignment film, it is suitable for forming the step having the above-described height.

The step may be formed by arranging one end of each of a plurality of membranes of the membrane element so as to coincide with each other.

In such a configuration, a step is formed by matching one ends of the stacked films. In such a configuration, since a plurality of films are stacked, a large step can be formed. Alternatively, in such a configuration, since the height of the step is determined by the total thickness of a plurality of films, it is possible to form the above-described step even if the thickness of each film is small. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the entire device.

The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the liquid crystal display device taken along line II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a preliminary sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view taken along line VII-VII ′ of FIG.

[Best mode for carrying out the invention]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1)

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along line II in FIG. FIGS. 1 and 2 show only the liquid crystal display element among the main components of the liquid crystal display device, and other components, for example, a lighting device such as a backlight or the above-described device. Illustration of an element driving structure for actually performing display is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal display element of the liquid crystal display device has a liquid crystal 4 sandwiched between an active matrix substrate (TF array substrate) 101 and a counter substrate 102. It is configured. As will be described later, the TFT array substrate 101 is provided with a plurality of source lines and gate lines that are orthogonal to each other in a plan view, and a region defined by the gate lines and the source lines is one. A pixel. Then, on the TFT array substrate 101, a well-known TF # is provided as a switching element for each pixel, and a pixel electrode divided for each pixel is formed. Like this, the book The liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment is an active drive type display device in which a TFT is formed for each pixel.

In the liquid crystal display device, the display area A is configured by forming a plurality of the pixels in a matrix shape. Although not shown here, a source driver and a gate driver for driving the above-mentioned source line and gate line are mounted around the liquid crystal display element. A control device for controlling the driver and the gate driver is provided. In the liquid crystal display device configured as described above, the control device outputs a control signal to each of the gate driver and the source driver according to a video signal input from the outside. Then, the gate driver outputs a gate signal to the gate line to turn on the switching element (TFT) of each pixel sequentially, while the source driver adjusts the timing to the image via the source line. The signal is sequentially input to the pixel electrode of each pixel. As a result, the liquid crystal is modulated, the transmittance of light emitted from a lighting device such as a backlight changes, and an image corresponding to the image signal appears in the eyes of a person viewing the liquid crystal display device.

The TFT array substrate 101 has an insulating transparent glass substrate 1, on which a plurality of gate lines are arranged in parallel at predetermined intervals and these gate lines are provided. A plurality of source lines orthogonal to the line in plan view are arranged at predetermined intervals while being insulated from the gate line by an insulating layer. As described above, the area of one pixel is determined by the gate line and the source line. In each pixel, a TFT is formed as a switching element at the intersection of the gate line and the source line, and the gate line is connected to the gate electrode of the TFT and the source of the TFT is formed. The source line is connected to the electrode. Here, the source line, the gate line, the TFT, and the insulating layers that insulate them are collectively illustrated as a wiring layer 201. Then, a protective film 8a that protects the TFT and functions as an interlayer insulating film with the pixel electrode is formed so as to cover the wiring layer 201. Further, on the protective film 8a, a pixel electrode 202 divided for each pixel is formed. Each pixel In the above, the pixel electrode 202 is electrically connected to the drain region of the TFT. On this pixel electrode 202, an alignment film 3a is formed. The thickness of the protective film 8a is 3 m, and here, a photosensitive acrylic resin film is used. The thickness of the alignment film 3a is 0.1 μιη. On the other hand, an opposing substrate 102 facing the TFT array substrate 101 has an insulating transparent glass substrate 2, and a color filter 203 is provided on the inner surface of the glass substrate 2. A protective film 8b for protecting 203, an IT-9 serving as a counter electrode, and an alignment film 3b are sequentially formed. The thickness of the protective film 8b is 3 μm, and an acrylic film is used similarly to the above-mentioned protective film 8a. The thickness of IT 09 is 0.1 l ^ m. The thickness of the alignment film 3b is 0.1 μππ.

The TF array substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102 are spaced at a predetermined distance by a spacer (not shown) so that the surfaces on which the respective films are formed face each other and have a gap. They are arranged and bonded with a liquid crystal sealing sealant 5. The liquid crystal sealing sealant 5 is disposed between the substrates 101 and 102 so as to surround the display area 表示 in a plan view and form a liquid crystal injection path 7 which is a path for injecting the liquid crystal 4. Have been. Thereby, the liquid crystal 4 is injected between the two substrates 101 and 102 to form a space that does not leak. The liquid crystal 4 is injected through the liquid crystal injection path 7 into a space surrounded by the TFT array substrate 101, the opposite substrate 102, and the liquid crystal sealing agent 5, and fills the space. ing. The liquid crystal injection path 7 is sealed by the liquid crystal sealing agent 6 after the liquid crystal 4 is injected into the space. As the liquid crystal encapsulant 6, for example, a photocurable acryl resin or a thermosetting epoxy resin is used. The width of the liquid crystal injection path 7 is about 0.5 to 5 cm. The distance b from the end of the display area A to the end of the TFT array substrate 1 and the end of the counter substrate 2 on the liquid crystal encapsulant injection side is 0.25 cm.

Here, the protective film 8a is not formed on the entire surface of the TFT array substrate 101, and the display layer is formed from the end of the TFT array substrate 101 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. The glass substrate 1 is exposed in a predetermined region up to the area A without the protective film 8a being provided. That is, the end of the protective film 8a on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side extends from the end of the TFT array substrate 101 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side to the end of the display area A on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. It is formed at a predetermined position. With such a structure, a step is formed between the TFT array substrate 101 and the protective film 8a. The height of this step corresponds to the thickness of the protective film 8a, and is specifically 3 μηι. Similarly, the protective film 8 b is not formed on the entire surface of the counter substrate 102, and the end of the protective film 8 b on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side is opposite to the liquid crystal injection path 7 on the counter substrate 2. It is formed at a predetermined position in the range from the end to the end of the display area A on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. With such a structure, a step is formed between the opposing substrate 102 and the protective film 8b symmetrically with the step on the TFT array substrate 101 side. The height of this step corresponds to the thickness of the protective film 8b, and is specifically 3 μm.

As described above, steps of 3 / zm are formed between the TFT array substrate 101 and the protective film 8a, and between the opposing substrate 102 and the protective film 8b. I have. Therefore, when the liquid crystal injection path 7 is sealed with the liquid crystal sealant 6, the liquid crystal sealant 6 does not penetrate deeper than the step. In other words, the liquid crystal sealing agent 6 does not penetrate into the region B where the protective films 8a and 8b are not formed, that is, the region corresponding to the liquid crystal injection path 7. Therefore, even when the distance b is small, the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 does not reach the display area A, and therefore the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 does not disturb the orientation of the liquid crystal 4. The step may be formed at any position in the range from the end of the TFT array substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side to the end of the display area A on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. However, it is particularly preferable to form the step in the liquid crystal injection path 7. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 from entering the display area A, and to effectively prevent display unevenness in the display area A.

As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment, the TFT array is used. Since the protective films 8a and 8b have steps formed on the substrate 101 and the counter substrate 102 with a height high enough to prevent the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 from entering, the distance b Even if the size is reduced, the liquid crystal sealant 6 does not enter the inside of the display area A. Therefore, the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 does not disturb the orientation of the liquid crystal 4, and it is possible to reduce the size and the size of the device while preventing display unevenness. Further, in such a configuration, since the existing protective films 8a and 8b are used, the device can be manufactured easily and at low cost without largely changing the manufacturing process of the device.

In the above description, the thicknesses of the protective films 8a and 8b on the TFT array substrate 101 side and the counter substrate 102 side are 3 μm, but the protective films 8a and 8b The thickness is not limited to the above as long as it is a film thickness capable of forming a step capable of preventing the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 from entering, and specifically, about 0.1 to 20 μιη, more preferably 0.2 to: about 程度 μπι, more preferably 0.6 to 8μιη. It should be noted that the greater the thickness of the protective films 8a and 8b, the larger the step becomes. Therefore, the above-described effect of preventing intrusion becomes large. The time required for the film formation process becomes longer, the throughput decreases, and the productivity decreases. Therefore, the upper limit of the thickness of the protective films 8a and 8b is as described above. Further, in the present embodiment, the step on the TFT array substrate 1 side is formed by the protective film 8a functioning as an interlayer insulating film with the pixel electrode. The step may be formed by a silvation film, or the step may be formed by an interlayer insulating film and a passivation film. As the passivation film, a SiN-based film is preferably used, and its thickness is 0.1 to 5 m. In the above description, the case where the thickness of the protective film 8a on the TFT array substrate 101 and the thickness of the protective film 8b on the counter substrate 102 are the same has been described, but the protective films 8a, 8 The thickness of b may be different within the above range.

(Embodiment 2) The liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment of the present invention is an improvement of the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment is different from the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment in that the end of the ITO 9 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side is a protective film 8b. And the end of the pixel electrode 202 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side matches the protective film 8a. In other words, the ends of the matching ITO 9 and the protective film 8b form a step between the counter substrate 102 and the ends of the matching pixel electrode 202 and the protective film 8a. However, a step is formed with the TFT array substrate 101. Here, the thickness of the pixel electrode 202 is 0.2 mm, and the thickness of the ITO 9 is 0.2 μππ, so that in this embodiment, the pixel electrode 202 is formed on the TFT array substrate 101 side. The step formed was 3.2 m, and the step formed on the counter substrate 2 side was 3.2 μπι. As described above, the end of the pixel electrode 202 is made to coincide with the end of the protective film 8a, and the end of the ITO 9 is made to coincide with the end of the protective film 8b. It is possible to form a larger step than the step formed only by the protective film 8a and the protective film 8b. Therefore, the effects described in the first embodiment are more effectively achieved. Other configurations of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment are the same as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

In the above description, the case where the film thickness of the pixel electrode 202 is 0.2111 and the film thickness of 1T09 is 0.2 μm is described. The thickness of the electrode is not limited to this.For example, the pixel electrode 202 may have a thickness of about 0.05 to 0.5 m, and the IT09 may have a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 μπι. Les ,. The step formed between IT 09 and the protective film 8 b and the step formed between the pixel electrode 202 and the protective film 8 a have such a height that the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 can be prevented from penetrating, Specifically, as long as the thickness is 0.1 μm or more, the combination of the thickness of the ITO 9 and the protective film 8b and the combination of the thickness of the pixel electrode 202 and the protective film 8a are arbitrary. . The pixel electrode 20 If the film thickness of IT 22 and IT〇9 is too large, the light transmittance will decrease, and the step will be too large, and the coverage of the film above the pixel electrodes 202 and IΤ09 will decrease. The possibility of step breakage increases. In addition, the time required for the film forming process is prolonged, the throughput is reduced, the productivity is reduced, and the thickness of the entire device is increased. Therefore, it is preferable that the upper limits of the pixel electrodes 202 and IΤ09 be about 20 μηι or less.

(Embodiment 3)

The liquid crystal display according to the third embodiment of the present invention is an improvement of the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the difference between the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment and the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment is that the above-described step is not caused by the protective films 8a and 8b but by the IT 09 And the alignment film 3b, and the pixel electrode 202 and the alignment film 3a.

That is, in the present embodiment, the protective film 8a and the protective film 8b are formed on the entire surface of the TFT array substrate 101 and the opposing substrate 102, and accordingly, the protective film 8a and the TFT array substrate No step is formed between the protective film 8b and the protective film 8b and the opposing substrate 102. In this case, the thickness of the protective films 8a and 8b is 3 m. On the other hand, on the counter substrate 102 side, the ITO 9 is not formed on the entire surface of the protective film 8 b, and the display area A from the end of the counter substrate 102 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. The protective film 8b is exposed in the predetermined region up to this point without the ITO 9 being present. The alignment film 3 is arranged so that the end on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side coincides with the end of the ITO 9. In other words, the ends of the ITO 9 and the alignment film 3b on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side coincide, and from the end of the protective film 8b on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side to the end of the display area A on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. Is formed at a predetermined position in the range. As a result, a step is formed between the protective film 8b and these alignment films 3b and IT09. In this case, the thickness of IT09 is 0.2 jum and the orientation is Since the thickness of the film 3b is 0.2 μm, the step is 0.4 μηι. On the other hand, on the TF array substrate 101 side, the pixel electrode 202 is not formed on the entire surface of the protective film 8a, and is displayed from the end of the TFT array substrate 101 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. In a predetermined region up to the area A, the protective film 8a is exposed without the pixel electrode 202. The alignment film 3a is provided so that the end on the side of the liquid crystal injection path 7 coincides with the end of the pixel electrode 202. In other words, the ends of the pixel electrode 202 and the alignment film 3a on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side coincide, and the liquid crystal injection path 7 of the display area A starts from the end of the protective film 8a on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. It is formed at a predetermined position in the range up to the end on the side. As a result, a step is formed between the protective film 8a, the alignment film 3a, and the pixel electrode 202. In this case, since the thickness of the pixel electrode 202 is 0.2 μm and the thickness of the alignment film 3a is 0.2 / m, the step is 0.4 μm. .

Also in the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, a step is formed on the TFT array substrate 101 side and the counter substrate 102 side, which is sufficient to prevent the intrusion of the liquid crystal sealant. The same effects as the effects described above in Embodiment 1 are achieved. Other configurations of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

The thicknesses of the pixel electrode 202, the ITO 9, and the alignment films 3a and 3b are not limited to those described above, and the height of the liquid crystal encapsulant 6 can be prevented. The thickness of the pixel electrode 202, the ITO 9, and the alignment films 3a and 3b may be other than this, as long as a step of 0.1 m or more can be formed. Further, the combination of the thickness of the pixel electrode 202 and the alignment film 3a and the combination of the thickness of the ITO 9 and the alignment film 3b are also arbitrary. For example, the film thickness of the pixel electrode 202 is about 0.05 to 0.5 / ίπι, the film thickness of ITO 9 is about 0.05 to 0.5111, and the orientation film 3 is formed. The thickness of 3, 3b may be about 0.05 to 0.5 μm. The thickness of the alignment film 3a and the thickness of the alignment film 3b may be different. Note that the pixel electrodes 202 and If the film thickness is too thick, the disadvantages described above in Embodiment 2 occur. If the film thickness of the alignment films 3 a and 3 b is too large, it is difficult to control the distance between the substrates (cell gap). .

(Embodiment 4)

The liquid crystal display according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is an improvement of the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the difference between the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment and the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment is that the above-described step is newly formed instead of the protective films 8a and 8b. This is a point formed by the formed liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention films 10a and 10b.

That is, in the TFT array substrate 101 of the present embodiment, the liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention film 10a is formed so as to cover the protection film 8a, and in the counter substrate 102, the protection film 8b is formed. A liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention film 10b is formed so as to cover the substrate. The liquid crystal sealing agent intrusion prevention films 10 a and 10 b are not formed on the entire surfaces of the glass substrates 1 and 2, and are formed between the end on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side and the display area A. In the predetermined region, the glass substrates 1 and 2 are exposed without the liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention films 10a and 10b. In other words, the ends of the liquid crystal sealing agent intrusion prevention films 10a and 10b extend from the end of the glass substrates 1 and 2 on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side to the end of the display area A on the liquid crystal injection path 7 side. It is formed at a predetermined position in the range. As a result, steps are formed between the glass substrate 1 and the liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention film 10a, and between the glass substrate 2 and the liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention film 10b. In this case, since the thickness of the liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention films 10a and 10b is 5 m, the height of the step is 5πι. Here, the thickness of the protective films 8a and 8b is 3 m.

Also in the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, a step is formed on the TFT array substrate 101 side and the counter substrate 102 side, which is sufficient to prevent the intrusion of the liquid crystal sealant. The same effect as described above in Embodiment 1 The effect is achieved. Other configurations of the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment are the same as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

The film thickness of the liquid crystal sealant intrusion prevention films 10a and 10b is not limited to the above, but may be a step having a height capable of preventing the liquid crystal sealant 6 from intruding. If it is about 1 m, it may be other than this. Further, the liquid crystal sealing agent intrusion prevention film 10a and the liquid crystal sealing agent intrusion prevention film 10b may have different thicknesses, or the alignment films 3a and 3b and the pixel electrodes 202 , And Z or ITO 9 may be included in the step. If the thickness of the liquid crystal sealing agent intrusion prevention films 10a and 10b is too thick, the same disadvantages as in the case of Embodiment 1 where the thickness of the protective films 8a and 8b are too thick. Therefore, the upper limit of the film thickness is set to about 8 μm.

As described above, according to the present invention, at least one of the films formed on the active matrix substrate (TFT array substrate) and the counter substrate is provided, and the ends of the films are formed on the liquid crystal injection path side of the two substrates. The liquid crystal is formed so as to be positioned between the liquid crystal injection path and the end of the display area on the liquid crystal injection path side, and the height of the step is such that the liquid crystal encapsulant does not enter the display area. Thus, even if the liquid crystal display device is small, the step prevents the liquid crystal encapsulant from entering the display area, and a good liquid crystal display device with no display unevenness can be obtained.

Here, in Embodiments 1 to 4, the case where a photocurable acrylic resin or a thermosetting epoxy resin is used as the liquid crystal encapsulant has been described. Other than this may be used. Liquid crystal encapsulants have different viscosities depending on their types, and therefore have different fluidities depending on the types of encapsulants, and therefore, the penetration into the display area is also different. Therefore, it is preferable to appropriately set the height of the step, specifically, the film thickness of the film forming the step, depending on the type of the liquid crystal encapsulant.The step in the present invention is 0.1 to 20 μm. Any value within the range of m may be used, but more preferably 0.2 to 10 μηι, and still more preferably Is 0.6 to 8 Aim. Here, if the step is lower than 0.1 nm, it is difficult to sufficiently prevent the liquid crystal encapsulant from entering. On the other hand, if the step is higher than 20 / m, the effect of preventing the infiltration of the liquid crystal encapsulant increases, but the overall thickness of the liquid crystal display device increases, so the liquid crystal display device must be made thinner and smaller. In addition, it becomes difficult, and the time required for the step forming step becomes longer, thereby decreasing throughput and reducing productivity. In addition, the step on the active matrix substrate (TFT array substrate) side and the step on the counter substrate side may have the same height or different heights. It is also assumed that the penetration of the liquid crystal encapsulant into the display area is affected by the width of the liquid crystal injection path. Therefore, it is preferable that the step is appropriately set in consideration of the width of the liquid crystal injection path.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the active matrix drive liquid crystal display device including the TFT array substrate has been described. However, the present invention relates to a simple matrix drive liquid crystal display device. Is also applicable. From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention are obvious to one skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description is to be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of its structure and Z or function may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Possibility of industrial use]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is useful as a thin and small display device used for AV / OA equipment products and the like.

Claims

Request box

1. A pair of substrates having at least a film element including an electrode film formed on one main surface are arranged with a gap such that the one main surface faces each other, and the gap is filled with liquid crystal molecules. And a liquid crystal layer formed between the electrode films of the pair of substrates and the liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the electrode films in the gap. A liquid crystal sealing part is formed so as to surround the display area and form a liquid crystal injection path, and after the liquid crystal molecules are filled from the liquid crystal injection path into a space surrounded by the liquid crystal sealing part, the liquid crystal injection path is formed. In a liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal layer is formed by being sealed with a liquid crystal sealing agent,

One end of at least one kind of the film elements is disposed between the liquid crystal injection port side end of the liquid crystal sealing portion and the end of the display area, so that the one end of the film element is disposed between the liquid crystal sealing portion and the substrate. A liquid crystal display device, wherein a step is formed in the liquid crystal display, and the step is not less than 0.1 / m and not more than 20 / xm.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the step is not less than 0.2 μm and not more than 10 m.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein one end of the film is disposed between a liquid crystal inlet side end of the liquid crystal sealing portion and an end of the display area.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the step is formed to include at least a protective film.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the step is formed including the electrode film and / or the alignment film.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the step is formed by arranging one ends of a plurality of films of the film element so as to coincide with each other.