JP2002328379A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display element without a color filter capable of reducing the thickness of a liquid crystal layer in a pixel portion is provided. A counter electrode is provided in a region inside a seal portion corresponding to a seal material, thereby increasing a gap between substrates of the seal portion and a diameter of a gap material mixed into the seal material. Is relatively large, the gap between the substrate surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 joined by defining the inter-substrate gap of the seal portion by the gap material 27 is reduced, and the inter-substrate gap of the pixel portion is reduced. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an active matrix type liquid crystal display device using thin film transistors (hereinafter, referred to as TFTs) as active devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an active matrix liquid crystal display element using a TFT as an active element, a pair of substrates are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material mixed with a gap material for defining a gap between the substrates. A liquid crystal layer is provided in a region surrounded by the seal material, and a plurality of liquid crystal layers are arranged in a matrix on an inner surface of one of the pair of substrates, corresponding to the region surrounded by the seal material. Pixel electrodes, a plurality of TFTs respectively connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines for supplying a gate signal to the plurality of TFTs, and a plurality of the TFTs
Are provided with a plurality of data wirings for supplying data signals,
A counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes is provided on the inner surface of the other substrate.

In this active matrix liquid crystal display device, a plurality of gate wiring terminals and data wiring terminals are formed on an inner surface of a substrate edge portion of one of the substrates provided with the pixel electrodes and the TFTs, which protrudes outside the sealing material. A counter electrode terminal is provided, and a cross electrode connected to the counter electrode terminal is provided on an inner surface of the one substrate outside a seal portion corresponding to the seal material. And a cross electrode connecting portion of the opposite electrode is connected by a cross material mixed with conductive particles.

[0004]

In order to increase the response speed of the liquid crystal display device, it is desired that the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion where the pixel electrode and the counter electrode face each other is as small as possible. .

In the active matrix liquid crystal display element, a portion of the sealing portion corresponding to the frame-shaped sealing material of the one substrate through which the gate wiring and the data wiring pass is raised to a high level. Is defined by the gap material sandwiched between the raised portion of the one substrate and the other substrate among the gap materials mixed in the frame-shaped sealing material.

In the case of a liquid crystal display element in which a color filter is provided in a region surrounded by the sealing material on one of the inner surfaces of a pair of substrates, even if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the sealing is performed. Since the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is sufficiently large, and thus the pair of substrates can be joined by a sealing material mixed with a gap material having a relatively large diameter, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion can be reduced. .

On the other hand, in the case of a liquid crystal display element without a color filter, if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the gap between the substrates in the seal portion is also reduced. The diameter must be very small.

However, it is extremely difficult to obtain a gap material having such an extremely small diameter. Therefore, in a conventional active matrix liquid crystal display device having no color filter, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion can be reduced. difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an active matrix type liquid crystal display device having no color filter and capable of reducing the thickness of a liquid crystal layer in a pixel portion.

[0010]

According to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a pair of substrates are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material mixed with a gap material for defining a gap therebetween, and the liquid crystal display element is provided between the pair of substrates. A liquid crystal layer is provided in a region surrounded by the sealing material, and a plurality of substrates arranged in a matrix corresponding to the region surrounded by the sealing material on the inner surface of one of the pair of substrates. A pixel electrode, a plurality of thin film transistors respectively connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines for supplying a gate signal to the plurality of thin film transistors, and a plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal to the plurality of thin film transistors. And a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes on an inner surface of a region of the other substrate inside a seal portion corresponding to the seal material. It is provided and is characterized in.

In this liquid crystal display device, since the counter electrode is provided only in a region inside the seal portion corresponding to the seal material, the diameter of the gap material mixed in the seal material is relatively large. Also, the gap between the substrates of the pair of substrates joined by defining the gap between the substrates of the seal portion by the gap material can be reduced, and the gap between the substrates of the pixel portion can be reduced.

Therefore, the liquid crystal display element is of an active matrix type having no color filter, but the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion can be reduced.

Further, in this liquid crystal display device, even if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the gap between the substrates in the seal portion can be defined by a gap material having a relatively large diameter. The height of the liquid crystal injection port formed so as to be sealed and sealed after the liquid crystal is injected can be sufficiently ensured, so that the liquid crystal injection time can be shortened and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

As described above, the liquid crystal display element of the present invention is of an active matrix type having no color filter by providing the counter electrode in a region inside the sealing portion corresponding to the frame-shaped sealing material. Even in such a case, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion is reduced, the height of the liquid crystal injection port is sufficiently secured, and the injection time of the liquid crystal can be shortened.

In this liquid crystal display device, a plurality of gate wiring terminals and data wiring terminals and a counter electrode are provided on the inner surface of one substrate provided with the pixel electrodes and the TFTs, the inner surface protruding outside the seal portion. A cross electrode connected to the counter electrode terminal in a region outside the seal portion on the inner surface of the one substrate, and the seal electrode is provided on a counter electrode provided on the inner surface of the other substrate. Forming a cross electrode connection part protruding outside the part,
When connecting the cross electrode and the cross electrode connection portion with a cross material mixed with conductive particles, it is preferable that the cross electrode is formed of the same metal film as the gate wiring.

Further, in the case where a light-shielding film corresponding to a region between a plurality of pixel portions in which a plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode face each other is provided on an inner surface of the other substrate provided with the counter electrode, The light-shielding film is desirably formed in a region inside the seal portion.

In another liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, a pair of substrates are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material mixed with a gap material defining a gap therebetween, and the sealing between the pair of substrates is performed. A liquid crystal layer is provided in a region surrounded by a material, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix on the inner surface of one of the pair of substrates, corresponding to the region surrounded by the sealing material. A plurality of thin film transistors respectively connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes; a plurality of gate lines for supplying a gate signal to the plurality of thin film transistors; and a plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal to the plurality of thin film transistors. A counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes is provided on an inner surface of the other substrate, and at least one substrate of the pair of substrates is provided. In a region surrounded by the sealing material of the inner surface, it is characterized in that the transparent insulating layer is provided.

In this liquid crystal display device, the transparent insulating layer is provided only on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates and surrounded by the sealing material. Even if the diameter of the material is relatively large, the gap between the substrates of the pair of substrates joined by defining the gap between the substrates of the seal portion by the gap material is reduced, and the gap between the substrates of the pixel portion is reduced. Can be.

Therefore, this liquid crystal display element is of an active matrix type having no color filter, but the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion can be reduced.

Further, in this liquid crystal display element, even if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the gap between the substrates in the seal portion can be defined by a gap material having a relatively large diameter. The height of the liquid crystal injection port formed so as to be sealed and sealed after the liquid crystal is injected can be sufficiently ensured, so that the liquid crystal injection time can be shortened and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

As described above, another liquid crystal display device of the present invention provides a color display device by providing a transparent insulating layer in a region surrounded by a frame-shaped sealing material on the inner surface of at least one of a pair of substrates. Even in the case of an active matrix type having no filter, the response speed can be increased by reducing the thickness of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion.

In this liquid crystal display device, it is preferable that the counter electrode has a seal portion corresponding to the frame-shaped seal material formed in a region inside the seal member.

[0023]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one pixel portion of the liquid crystal display element, FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is an active matrix liquid crystal display device used in a field sequential liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIGS. Frame-shaped sealing material 26 mixed with a gap material 27 defining
And a liquid crystal layer 30 is provided in a region surrounded by the sealing material 26 between the pair of substrates 1 and 2, and one of the pair of substrates 1 and 2;
For example, a plurality of transparent pixel electrodes 3 arranged in a matrix in a row direction and a column direction corresponding to a region surrounded by the sealing material 26 on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2 and the plurality of pixel electrodes 3 TFT4 respectively connected to
A plurality of gate wirings 11 for supplying gate signals to the plurality of TFTs 4, a plurality of data wirings 13 for supplying data signals to the plurality of TFTs 4, and one end and one side edge of the substrate 2. A plurality of gate wiring terminals 12 and data wiring terminals 14 provided on the other substrate, that is, on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 which is the display observation side,
A single film-shaped transparent opposing electrode 23 opposing the plurality of pixel electrodes 3; a plurality of pixel electrodes 3 and the opposing electrode 23;
And a light-shielding film 24 corresponding to a region between the plurality of pixel portions facing each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the TFT 4 includes a gate electrode 5 formed on the surface of the rear substrate 2, a transparent gate insulating film 6 formed on the entire substrate so as to cover the gate electrode 5, An i-type semiconductor film 7 formed on the gate insulating film 6 so as to face the gate electrode 5, and a source formed on both sides of the i-type semiconductor film 7 via the n-type semiconductor film 8. It comprises an electrode 9 and a drain electrode 10.

The gate wiring 11 is provided on the rear substrate 2.
One end of each of the gate wirings 11 is connected to a plurality of gate wiring terminals 12 arranged on one edge of the rear substrate 2. The gate electrode 5 of the TFT 4 is formed integrally with the gate wiring 11 corresponding to the TFT 4.

The gate electrode 5 and the gate wiring 11
Is formed of a low-resistance aluminum-based alloy film, and although not shown in the figure, its surface is anodized except for the portion that becomes the gate wiring terminal 12. The gate electrode 5 and the gate wiring 11 are
In order to reduce the level difference from the surface of the substrate 2, the gate insulating film 6 is formed to have a very small thickness of 0.23 μm.
Is made of a silicon nitride film having a thickness of 0.25 μm.

On the other hand, the data lines 13 are formed on the gate insulating film 6 along one side of each pixel electrode column, and one end of each of the data lines 13 is formed on the rear substrate 2. Each is connected to a plurality of data wiring terminals 14 arranged and formed on one side edge.

The data wiring 13 is formed of the same metal film as the source electrode 9 and the drain electrode 10 of the TFT 4 and is integrally connected to the drain electrode 10 of the TFT 4.

In FIG. 2, the source electrode 9 and the drain electrode 10 of the TFT 4 and the data wiring 13 are shown as single-layer films.
The 0 and data lines 13 are composed of a chromium film, which is a contact layer with the n-type semiconductor film 8, and an aluminum-based alloy film formed thereon.

A data signal for accumulating a charge corresponding to image data in a pixel capacitance formed between the pixel electrode 3 and the counter electrode 23 via the TFT 4 is provided on the data line 13. Flows, so in this example,
In order to minimize the potential drop of the data signal due to the resistance of the data line 13, the data line 13
Is formed to a thickness of 0.425 μm, which is sufficiently thicker than the thickness (0.23 μm) of the gate wiring 11.

On the other hand, the pixel electrodes 3 are formed on the gate insulating film 6, and these pixel electrodes 3 are connected to the source electrode 9 of the TFT 4 at one side edge. . The pixel electrode 3 has a thickness of 0.1 mm.
It is made of a 05 μm ITO film.

On the inner surface of the rear substrate 2, an overcoat insulating film 15 made of a silicon nitride film having a thickness of 0.20 μm and having openings in regions corresponding to the plurality of pixel electrodes 3 is formed on the entire substrate. An alignment film 16 made of a polyimide film having a thickness of 0.04 μm is provided on the overcoat insulating film 15 over substantially the entire region surrounded by the sealing material 26.

Further, an arrangement edge of one of the gate wiring terminal 12 and the data wiring terminal 14 on the rear substrate 2 (one side edge on which the data wiring terminals 14 are arranged and formed in this embodiment). The counter electrode terminal 17 corresponding to the counter electrode 23 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 is provided on the inner surface of
A cross electrode 18 formed to be connected to the counter electrode terminal 17 is provided on an inner surface of a region outside the seal portion corresponding to the above.

The sealing material 26 is formed in a rectangular frame shape in which each corner is obliquely chamfered, and the cross electrode 18 is, as shown in FIG. The counter electrode terminal 17 is provided outside the chamfered corner corresponding to the edge of the substrate on which the counter electrode terminal 17 is provided.

The cross electrode 18 is connected to the gate wiring 1.
Gate wiring 1 having a small film thickness among data wiring 1 and data wiring 13
1 is a single-layer film made of the same metal film (aluminum-based alloy film having a thickness of 0.23 μm), and is connected to the counter electrode terminal 17 via a lead portion 19 formed integrally with the cross electrode 18. ing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gate wiring terminal 12 has an upper film 12b made of the same metal film as the data wiring 13 on a lower film 12a made of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11. The counter electrode terminal 17 is formed on the lower layer film made of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11, similarly to the gate wiring terminal 12, although the cross-sectional structure thereof is not shown. The data wiring terminal 14 is a single-layer film made of the same metal film as the data wiring 13, as shown in FIG. It has been.

The gate insulating film 6 has a lower layer film 12a formed on the gate wiring terminal 12 and the counter electrode terminal 17.
And an opening for exposing the cross electrode 18. The overcoat insulating film 15 includes an upper layer film 12 b of the gate wiring terminal 12 and the counter electrode terminal 17, the cross electrode 18, and the data wiring terminal 14. An opening to be exposed is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the seal portion on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2, a region along the edge of the arrangement of the gate wiring terminals 12 is provided.
The pseudo electrodes 20 made of the same metal film as the data wiring 13 are provided corresponding to the data wirings 13, respectively, and in the region along the edge of the arrangement of the data wiring terminals 14, as shown in FIG. Pseudo electrodes 21 made of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11 are provided below the plurality of data wirings 13, respectively.

The pseudo electrodes 20 corresponding to the plurality of gate lines 11 are formed on the gate insulating film 6, and the pseudo electrodes 21 corresponding to the plurality of data lines 13 are formed on the surface of the substrate 2. Have been.

Further, in the sealing portion of the rear substrate 2, a region other than a region where the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 are led out, that is, a region opposite to the arrangement edge of the gate wiring terminal 12 and the data wiring terminal 14 is opposite. As shown in FIG. 5, except for a portion corresponding to a liquid crystal injection port 26 a to be described later, a region along the side edge and the side edge of the substrate and a region corresponding to each corner of the sealing material 26. A first pseudo electrode 22a formed of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11 on the surface of the substrate 2, and the data wiring 13 on the gate insulating film 6.
And a second pseudo electrode 22b formed of the same metal film as above.

The pseudo electrodes 22a and 22 shown in FIG.
“b” is provided on a seal portion corresponding to each corner of the seal material 26, and is a substrate end of the rear substrate 2 opposite to the arrangement edge of the gate wiring terminals 12 and the data wiring terminals 13. Although not shown, the first and second pseudo electrodes provided on the seal portion along the edge and the side edge are provided at the same pitch as the pitch of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13.

On the other hand, the light shielding film 24 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 is formed on the surface of the front substrate 1 and
3 is formed on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 so as to cover the light shielding film 24.

Although the light-shielding film 24 is shown as a single-layer film in FIGS. 2 to 5, the light-shielding film 24 is made of a chromium oxide film formed on the front substrate 1 and a chromium oxide film formed thereon. It is a laminated film having a film thickness of 0.17 μm.

The counter electrode 23 has a thickness of 0.1.
An alignment film 25 made of a polyimide film having a thickness of 0.04 μm is provided on the counter electrode 23 over almost the entire region surrounded by the sealing material 26. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the opposing electrode 23 has a rectangular film having an area whose outer peripheral edge is located slightly inside the inner peripheral edge of the seal portion in a region inside the seal portion. A cross electrode connecting portion 23a protruding outside the seal portion is formed integrally with a portion of the counter electrode 23 corresponding to the chamfered corner portion of the seal material 26.

The light-shielding film 24 is formed in a region inside the seal portion in substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the counter electrode 23 except for the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23. The cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 is formed directly on the front substrate 1 surface.

The sealing material 26 is made of a thermosetting resin, and a gap material 27 made of insulating particles such as glass particles or hard resin particles is mixed into the sealing material 26.

The sealing member 26 has a side different from the lead-out side of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 provided on the rear substrate 2, for example, a side along the arrangement edge of the data wiring terminals 14. There is provided a liquid crystal injection port 26a formed by partially removing the side portion on the side.

The pair of substrates 1 and 2 are provided with a gap between the substrates of the sealing portion (the substrate surface of the front substrate 1 and the innermost overcoat insulating film 15 of the sealing portion of the rear substrate 2).
Is defined by a gap material 27 mixed in the sealing material 26, and are joined via the sealing material 26.

The cross electrode 18 formed in a region outside the seal portion of the rear substrate 2 and the cross electrode connection portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 2 As shown in FIG. 3, the conductive particles 29
Are connected by a cross member 28 made of a thermosetting resin mixed with a.

3 to 5, the gap between the pair of substrates 1 and 2 and the gap material 2 in the sealing material 26 are shown for convenience.
7 and the diameter of the conductive particles 29 in the cloth material 28 are greatly exaggerated, but the gap between the substrates 1 and 2 and the diameter of the gap material 27 and the conductive particles 29 are extremely small. Gap material 2 in the sealing material 26
7 and the number of conductive particles 29 in the cloth material 28 are as follows:
There are more than the numbers shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 5, for convenience, the conductive particles 29 in the cloth material 28 are shown as an integral body, but the conductive particles 29 are formed by plating a conductive metal such as gold on the surface of the resin particles. Made of plated particles.

In this liquid crystal display element, a sealing material 26 mixed with the gap material 27 is printed on the inner surface of one of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 in a frame shape having a liquid crystal injection port 26a. A cross material 28 mixed with the conductive particles 29 is printed on one of the cross electrode 18 formed on the substrate 2 and the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1, When the pair of substrates 1 and 2 are overlapped and pressed, the gap between the substrates of the seal portion corresponding to the seal material 26 is reduced by the gap material 27.
And the cloth material 2
8 are sandwiched between the cross electrode 18 and the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23, and the sealing material 26 and the cross material 28 are cured in that state, and then assembled. The liquid crystal injection port 26
The liquid crystal is injected by vacuum injection into a region between the pair of substrates 1 and 2 surrounded by the sealing material 26 from a, and the liquid crystal injection opening 26a is sealed with a sealing material 26b.

The cloth material 28 is not limited to a material obtained by mixing the conductive particles 29 in a thermosetting resin, but may be a material obtained by mixing the conductive particles 29 in an adhesive. No need to cure.

The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment is a homogeneous alignment type liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 30 are homogeneously aligned in one direction. Although not shown in FIG. In order to increase the display contrast and widen the viewing angle between one of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 and the polarizing plate on the substrate side, a polarizing plate is disposed on each outer surface of the pair. Are arranged.

In assembling the liquid crystal display element, the sealing material 26 is defined by the gap material 27 in which the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is mixed with the sealing material by overlapping and pressing the pair of substrates 1 and 2. Squeezed until a predetermined value is reached, and then cured. In this embodiment, of the sealing portion on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2,
A data line 13 is formed in a region along the edge of the arrangement of the gate line terminals 12 so as to correspond to the plurality of gate lines 11 respectively.
A pseudo electrode 20 made of the same metal film as that described above is provided.
3 and a pseudo electrode 21 made of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11 is provided in correspondence with each other, and a region of the sealing portion of the rear substrate 2 excluding the lead-out region of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 The pseudo electrode 22a formed of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11 and the pseudo electrode 22b formed of the same metal film as the data wiring 13 are vertically opposed except for the portion corresponding to the liquid crystal injection port 26a. The pseudo electrodes 20, 21, 22a and 22 in the sealing portion of the rear substrate 2
b has the same inner surface height (total thickness of the laminated film of the gate wiring 11, the gate insulating film 6, the data wiring 13, and the overcoat insulating film 15).
The sealing material 26 is evenly crushed over the entire area of the sealing portion, the gap between the substrates of the sealing portion is made uniform over the entire circumference, and the gap between the substrates of the plurality of pixel portions in the region surrounded by the sealing material 26 is reduced. The gap can be made uniform.

As shown in FIG. 5, among the gaps between the substrates of the seal portion, the gaps between the substrates in a region corresponding to the cross electrode connecting portion 23a projecting from the counter electrode 23 to the outside of the sealing material 26 are formed. , The cross electrode connection part 2
Although the thickness is increased by the thickness of 3a (0.14 μm), since the cross electrode connection portion 23a is only at a portion corresponding to the chamfered corner portion of the seal material 26, it corresponds to the cross electrode connection portion 23a of the seal portion. The difference between the gaps between the substrate and the other regions hardly affects the gap between the substrates in the region surrounded by the sealing material 26, and therefore, the difference between the regions surrounded by the sealing material 26 The gap between the substrates in the plurality of pixel portions can be made uniform.

This liquid crystal display element is connected to the front substrate 1.
The counter electrode 23 on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 is not formed outside the seal portion except for the cross electrode connection portion 23a, and is provided only in the inner region. Is not formed outside the seal portion, but is provided only in the inner region. Therefore, compared with the case where the peripheral edges of the counter electrode 23 and the light shielding film 24 face the seal portion, The gap between the substrates in the seal portion can be increased by both the thickness (0.14 μm) of the counter electrode 23 and the thickness (0.17 μm) of the light shielding film 24.

Therefore, even if the diameter of the gap material 27 mixed in the seal material 26 is relatively large, the gap material 27 defines the gap between the substrates in the seal portion and is joined to the pair of substrates 1 and 2. The distance d1 between the substrate surfaces (FIG. 3
) Can be reduced, and the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion can be reduced.

Therefore, this liquid crystal display element is of an active matrix type having no color filter, but the liquid crystal layer thickness d (see FIG. 2) of the pixel portion can be reduced.

Further, in this liquid crystal display element, even if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the gap between the substrates in the seal portion can be defined by the gap material 27 having a relatively large diameter. A liquid crystal injection port 26a formed so as to be partially removed and sealed after liquid crystal is injected.
Height can be sufficiently secured. The gap between the substrates in the pixel portion of the liquid crystal display element, that is, the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion is, for example, joined to the pair of substrates 1 and 2 by a sealing material 26 mixed with a gap 27 having a diameter (diameter) of 0.915 μm. Thus, the thickness can be reduced to 1.5 μm.

That is, as described above, the gate wiring 11 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2, the pseudo electrode 20 provided on the seal portion in correspondence with the data wiring 13,
A first pseudo electrode 22a provided in a region of the seal portion except for a region where the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 are led out.
Is 0.23 μm, and the thickness of the gate insulating film 6 is 0.23 μm.
5 μm, a data line 13, a pseudo electrode 21 provided in the seal portion corresponding to the gate line 11, and a first pseudo electrode in a region of the seal portion excluding the lead-out region of the gate line 11 and the data line 13. The thickness of the second pseudo electrode 22b provided corresponding to 22a is 0.425 μm.
m, the thickness of the overcoat insulating film 15 is 0.20 μm, and since there is no counter electrode 23 and light shielding film 24 in the sealing portion of the front substrate 1, the insulating gap material 27 in the sealing material 26 When the diameter is 0.915 μm, the distance d1 between the substrate surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 (hereinafter referred to as the substrate distance) is 2.02 μm.

On the other hand, the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion (the interval between the alignment films 25 and 16 provided on the innermost surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2) is larger than the substrate interval. And the film thickness of the counter electrode 23 and the alignment films 25 and 16.

As described above, the thickness of the gate insulating film 6 is 0.25 μm, and the thickness of the pixel electrode 3 is 0.05 μm.
5 μm, the thickness of the counter electrode 23 is 0.14 μm,
Since the thickness of each of the substrates 5 and 16 is 0.04 μm, if the substrate interval d1 is 2.02 μm, the inter-substrate gap of the pixel unit (the liquid crystal layer thickness d of the pixel unit) is 1.5 μm.
become.

It should be noted that the diameter (diameter) of the gap material 27 is not more than 0.1.
A pair of substrates 1 and 2 are joined by using a sealing material 26 mixed with an insulating gap material 27 having a diameter of 8 μm, so that the substrate distance d1 is 2.005 μm, and the inter-substrate gap of the pixel portion is Can be reduced to 1.385 μm.

Further, the first pseudo electrode 22a and the second pseudo electrode 22b provided in the sealing portion except for the lead-out region of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 are provided at a portion corresponding to the liquid crystal inlet 26a. Therefore, the height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a is from the surface of the laminated film of the gate insulating film 6 and the overcoat insulating film 15 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2 to the substrate surface of the front substrate 1. Since the thickness of the gate insulating film 6 is 0.25 μm and the thickness of the overcoat insulating film 15 is 0.20 μm, the liquid crystal injection port 26 when the substrate distance d1 is 2.02 μm.
The height of a is 1.57 μm, and the substrate distance d1 is 2.00.
The height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a when 1.5 μm is 1.55
5 μm.

Therefore, in this liquid crystal display element, even if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a can be sufficiently ensured. Cost can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, since the cross electrode 18 is formed of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11, the thickness of the cross electrode 18 is small.
The distance between the cross electrode 18 and the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 can be increased.

That is, the thickness of the cross electrode 18 formed of the same metal film as the gate wiring 11 is 0.23 μm,
Since the thickness of the cross connection portion 23a formed on the counter electrode 23 is 0.14 μm, the substrate distance d1 is set to 2.02 μm.
When the distance between the cross electrode 18 and the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 is 1.65 μm, the cross electrode 18 when the substrate distance d1 is 2.005 μm.
The distance between the electrode and the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 is 1.635 μm.

The conductive particles 29 mixed into the cloth material 28 have a diameter (diameter) of 1.5 μm.
m of the plating particles as described above can be used.

Therefore, according to this liquid crystal display device, the cloth material 2 containing the conductive particles 29 having the available diameter is mixed.
8, the cross electrode 18 and the cross electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 can be connected to each other without warping the pair of substrates 1 and 2 in the vicinity of the cross connecting portion. Since there is no difference between the inter-substrate gaps of the neighboring pixel portions and the inter-substrate gaps of the pixel portions in other regions, the inter-substrate gaps of all the pixel portions, that is, the liquid crystal layer thickness d is uniform, and there is no display unevenness. Good display quality can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, both the counter electrode 23 and the light-shielding film 24 are provided in a region inside the seal portion. However, the light-shielding film 24 has a peripheral portion corresponding to the seal portion. In this case, the gap between the substrates in the seal portion may be smaller than that in the case where both the peripheral edges of the counter electrode 23 and the light shielding film 24 face the seal portion. The thickness of the electrode 23 (0.14 μ
m), even if the diameter of the gap material 27 mixed in the sealing material 26 is relatively large, the gap material 27 defines a gap between the substrates of the sealing portion and is joined to the pair of sealing members. The distance d1 between the substrate surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2 can be reduced, the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion can be reduced, and the height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a can be sufficiently secured.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal display device, and FIGS.
8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one pixel portion of the liquid crystal display element, FIG.
6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6, and FIG.
It is an expanded sectional view which follows the IX-IX line.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, a transparent insulating layer 31 is provided on at least one of a pair of substrates, for example, on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 so as to correspond to a region surrounded by the sealing material 26. In this embodiment, the counter electrode 23 and the light-shielding film 24 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 are formed in a larger area than in the first embodiment, and the cross electrode 18 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2 is formed by a laminated film. Has formed.

The transparent insulating layer 31 has a thickness of, for example, 1. nm on the light shielding film 24 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1.
The transparent insulating layer 31 is provided with a counter electrode 23, and an alignment film 25 is provided thereon.

In this embodiment, the counter electrode 23
As shown in FIG. 6, a rectangular film having an area whose outer edge is located slightly inside the outer edge of the sealing material 26 is formed. A portion corresponding to the outside is a cross electrode connecting portion 23b protruding outside the sealing material 26, and the light-shielding film 24 is connected to the cross electrode connecting portion 2 of the counter electrode 23.
It is formed in the same shape as the outer shape of the region except for 3b.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the cross electrode 18 is formed by forming an upper layer film made of the same metal film as the data line 13 on a lower layer film 18a made of the same metal film as the gate line 11. The lead portion 19 is also formed of the same laminated film while being formed of the laminated film on which 18b is formed.

In this embodiment, the cross electrode 1
8 and its lead portion 19 are formed by the laminated film, but the other structure except the cross electrode 18 on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2 and its lead portion 19 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the overlapping description is given the same reference numeral in the figure and omitted.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pair of substrates 1 and 2 is provided with a gap between the substrates of the sealing portion corresponding to the frame-shaped sealing material 26 (the innermost surface of the sealing portion of the front substrate 1). The distance between the opposing electrode 23 and the innermost overcoat insulating film 15 of the seal portion of the rear substrate 2) is defined by the gap material 27a mixed in the seal material 26, and is joined via the seal material 26. ing.

The cross electrode 18 formed in a region outside the seal portion of the rear substrate 2 and the cross electrode connection portion 23a of the counter electrode 23 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 As shown in FIG. 9, the conductive particles 29
are connected by a cross member 28 in which a is mixed.

8 and 9, the gap between the pair of substrates 1 and 2, the gap material 27a in the sealing material 26, and the diameter of the conductive particles 29a in the cloth material 28 are greatly exaggerated for convenience. However, the gap between the substrates 1 and 2, the gap material 27a and the conductive particles 29a
Is extremely small, and therefore, the number of the gap material 27a in the sealing material 26 and the number of the conductive particles 29a in the cloth material 28 are larger than those shown in the figure.

The liquid crystal display device of this embodiment has a front substrate 1
Since the transparent insulating layer 31 is provided on the inner surface of the substrate so as to correspond to the region surrounded by the sealing material 26, the gap between the substrates of the sealing portion corresponding to the sealing material 26 is reduced by the absence of the transparent insulating layer 31. Compared to the case, the transparent insulating layer 31
Can be earned for the thickness of the film.

That is, in this liquid crystal display element, the distance d2 between the substrates (the distance between the substrate surfaces of the pair of substrates 1 and 2) is the same as the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion, and the liquid crystal display element without the transparent insulating layer 31 is provided. Of the transparent insulating layer 3
It is larger by the thickness of 1.

Therefore, in this liquid crystal display device, even if the diameter of the gap material 27a mixed in the sealing material 26 is relatively large, the gap between the substrates of the pixel portion (the pair of substrates 1 and 2)
The distance between the alignment films 25 and 16 provided on the innermost surface of the liquid crystal can be reduced, and the liquid crystal injection port 26a formed by partially removing the sealing material 26 and sealed after the liquid crystal is injected. (See FIG. 1).

The gap between the substrates in the pixel portion of the liquid crystal display element, that is, the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion is, for example, 2.215 μm.
By joining the pair of substrates 1 and 2 with the sealing material 26 mixed with a gap material 27a having a diameter of m (diameter),
It can be 1.5 μm.

That is, similarly to the first embodiment, the gate wiring 11 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2 and the pseudo electrode 2 provided on the sealing portion in correspondence with the data wiring 13 are provided.
0, the thickness of the first pseudo electrode 22a provided in the sealing portion excluding the lead-out region of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 is 0.23 μm, the thickness of the gate insulating film 6 is 0.25 μm, The data wiring 13 and a pseudo electrode 21 (FIG. 4) provided in the seal portion in correspondence with the gate wiring 11
), And the first pseudo electrode 2 is formed in a region of the seal portion other than the lead-out region of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13.
The thickness of the second pseudo electrode 22b provided corresponding to 2a is 0.425 μm, the thickness of the overcoat insulating film 15 is 0.20 μm, and the thickness of the light-shielding film 24 provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1 is When the thickness is 0.17 μm and the thickness of the counter electrode 23 is 0.14 μm, when the diameter of the gap material 27a in the sealing material 26 is 1.905 μm, the substrate distance d2 is 3.32 μm. .

On the other hand, the inter-substrate gap in the pixel portion is smaller than the substrate distance d2 by the thickness of the gate insulating film 6, pixel electrode 3, counter electrode 23, alignment films 25 and 16, and transparent insulating layer 31.
Smaller by the thickness of the layer.

As described above, the thickness of the gate insulating film 6 is 0.25 μm, and the thickness of the pixel electrode 3 is 0.05 μm.
5 μm, the thickness of the counter electrode 23 is 0.14 μm,
The thickness of each of the transparent insulating layers 3 and 4 is 0.04 μm.
1 has a layer thickness of 1.30 μm, so that the substrate distance d2
Is 3.32 μm, the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion (the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer in the pixel portion) is 1.5 μm.

Further, the first pseudo electrode 22a and the second pseudo electrode 22b provided in the sealing portion except for the lead-out region of the gate wiring 11 and the data wiring 13 are provided at a portion corresponding to the liquid crystal injection port 26a. Therefore, the height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a is set from the surface of the laminated film of the gate insulating film 6 and the overcoat insulating film 15 provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2 to the inner surface of the front substrate 1. Light shielding film 24
The height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a when the substrate distance d2 is 3.32 μm is 2.56 μm.

Therefore, in this liquid crystal display element, even if the gap between the substrates in the pixel portion is reduced, the height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a can be sufficiently ensured. Cost can be reduced.

Further, in the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, the cross electrode 18 is formed by forming an upper layer film 18b made of the same metal film as the data line 13 on a lower layer film 18a made of the same metal film as the gate line 11. When the inter-substrate gap of the pixel portion is 1.5 μm, that is, when the substrate interval d2 is 3.32 μm, the cross electrode connecting portion 23b of the cross electrode 18 and the counter electrode 23 is formed. Is 2.510 μm. Therefore, the cross electrode 28 of the cross electrode 18 and the counter electrode 23 is connected by the cross material 28 mixed with the conductive particles 29 a having a relatively large diameter (diameter) of 2.510 μm. Section 23a.

According to this embodiment, the cross electrode 18 is formed by laminating an upper layer film 18b made of the same metal film as the data line 13 on a lower layer film 18a made of the same metal film as the gate line 11. Since the cross electrode 18 is formed of a film, the electric resistance of the cross electrode 18 is reduced, and the cross 18 connected to the cross electrode 28 via the conductive particles 29 a in the cross material 28 and the cross electrode connection portion 23 of the counter electrode 23 are formed.
The connection resistance with a can be reduced.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal display element, and FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. is there.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment.
The counter electrode 23 and the light-shielding film 24 of the liquid crystal display element of the second embodiment shown in FIG. The structure is the same as that of the second embodiment except that the gap member 27b having a larger diameter than the example is mixed with the sealing material 26 mixed therein.

That is, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the counter electrode 23 is formed into a rectangular film having an area whose outer edge is located slightly inside the inner edge of the sealing material 26. The sealing material 26 is formed on a portion of the counter electrode 23 corresponding to the chamfered corner of the sealing material 26.
The cross-electrode connecting portion 23a protruding outside is integrally formed, and the light-shielding film 24 is formed in substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the counter electrode 23 except for the cross-electrode connecting portion 23a of the counter electrode 23. .

In the liquid crystal display device of this embodiment, the counter electrode 23 and the light shielding film 24 of the liquid crystal display device of the second embodiment are formed so as to avoid the sealing portion corresponding to the sealing material 26. When the inter-substrate gap of the pixel portion is the same as that of the second embodiment, the inter-substrate gap of the seal portion is the second.
It is possible to further increase the thickness by the thickness of both the counter electrode 23 and the light shielding film 24 as compared with the embodiment.

The film thickness of the counter electrode 23 is 0.14.
μm, and the thickness of the light-shielding film 24 is 0.17 μm.
It is possible to increase the size of the pair of substrates 1 and 2 by 0.31 μm as compared with the second embodiment. Therefore, the sealing material 26 in which the gap material 27b having a diameter 0.31 μm larger than that of the second embodiment is mixed. And the height of the liquid crystal injection port 26a (see FIG. 1) can be increased by 0.31 μm as compared with the second embodiment, and the liquid crystal injection time can be further shortened.

In the second and third embodiments,
The thickness of the transparent insulating layer 31 was set to 1.30 μm. The thickness of the transparent insulating layer 31 was determined by the gap between the substrates of the seal portion and the distance between the cross electrode 18 and the cross electrode connection portion 23 a of the counter electrode 23. May be arbitrarily selected within a range that is equal to or larger than the minimum value of the diameter (diameter) of the gap material mixed in the seal material 26 and the conductive particles mixed in the cloth material 28.

In the second and third embodiments,
Although the transparent insulating layer 31 is provided on the inner surface of the front substrate 1, the transparent insulating layer 31 may be provided on the inner surface of the rear substrate 2,
Further, a transparent insulating layer may be provided on both inner surfaces of the front substrate 1 and the rear substrate 2.

Furthermore, the liquid crystal display device of the above embodiment is of a homogeneous alignment type in which the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 30 are homogeneously aligned in one direction. In the present invention, the TN (twisted liquid crystal molecules are twisted) is used. It can be applied to a twisted nematic) type active matrix liquid crystal display device, an active matrix liquid crystal display device using a ferroelectric liquid crystal or an antiferroelectric liquid crystal, and further used for a field sequential liquid crystal display device. The present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an active matrix liquid crystal display element that displays a black and white image.

[0102]

The liquid crystal display element of the present invention is of an active matrix type having no color filter because the opposing electrode is provided only in the area inside the sealing portion corresponding to the frame-shaped sealing material. However, the liquid crystal layer thickness of the pixel portion can be reduced, the height of the liquid crystal injection port can be sufficiently secured, and the liquid crystal injection time can be shortened.

In this liquid crystal display element, a plurality of gate wiring terminals and data wiring terminals and a counter electrode are provided on the inner surface of the substrate on which the pixel electrode and the TFT are provided and which protrude outside the seal portion on the inner surface of the one substrate. A cross electrode connected to the counter electrode terminal in a region outside the seal portion on the inner surface of the one substrate, and the seal electrode is provided on a counter electrode provided on the inner surface of the other substrate. Forming a cross electrode connection part protruding outside the part,
When connecting the cross electrode and the cross electrode connection portion with a cross material mixed with conductive particles, the cross electrode is desirably formed of the same metal film as the gate wiring. Thus, a liquid crystal display element having an extremely narrow gap is formed by a cloth material mixed with conductive particles having a relatively large diameter compared to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
The cross electrode and the cross electrode connection portion of the counter electrode can be connected to each other without deforming the pair of substrates outwardly in the vicinity of the cross connection portion. Uniform thickness,
Good display quality without display unevenness can be obtained.

Further, in this liquid crystal display element, light shielding corresponding to a region between a plurality of pixel portions where a plurality of pixel electrodes and the counter electrode face each other is formed on an inner surface of the other substrate provided with the counter electrode. When a film is provided, it is desirable that the light-shielding film is formed only in a region inside the seal portion. In this manner, the liquid crystal layer thickness of the pixel portion is further reduced, and the height of the liquid crystal injection port is increased. And the injection time of the liquid crystal can be shortened.

Further, another liquid crystal display element of the present invention is one in which a transparent insulating layer is provided only on the inner surface of at least one of a pair of substrates, which is surrounded by a frame-shaped sealing material. Therefore, even in the case of an active matrix type having no color filter, the liquid crystal layer thickness of the pixel portion can be reduced, the height of the liquid crystal injection port can be sufficiently secured, and the liquid crystal injection time can be shortened. In this liquid crystal display element, it is preferable that the counter electrode is provided only in a region inside the seal portion corresponding to the seal material. In this way, the liquid crystal layer thickness of the pixel portion is further reduced, The height of the liquid crystal injection port can be more sufficiently secured, and the liquid crystal injection time can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one pixel portion of the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one pixel portion of the liquid crystal display device of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a part of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, substrate 3, pixel electrode 4, TFT 11, gate wiring 12, gate wiring terminal 13, data wiring 14, data wiring wiring terminal 17, counter electrode terminal 18, cross electrode 23, counter electrode 23a, 23b cross electrode Connection part 24 ... Light shielding film 26 ... Seal material 27,27a, 27b ... Gap material 28 ... Cross material 29,29a ... Conductive particles 30 ... Liquid crystal layer 31 ... Transparent insulating layer

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G09F 9/30 338 G09F 9/30 338 349 349C F term (Reference) 2H089 LA07 LA15 MA06 NA06 QA12 TA09 2H092 GA32 GA36 GA40 JB13 JB22 JB31 JB56 NA27 NA29 PA03 PA04 5C094 AA03 AA43 BA03 BA43 CA19 CA24 DA14 DA15 DB01 DB04 DB05 EA02 EA04 EA07 EB02 EC03 ED03 FB12 FB15

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of substrates are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material mixed with a gap material defining a gap therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer is formed in a region surrounded by the sealing material between the pair of substrates. And a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix in a region surrounded by the sealant on an inner surface of one of the pair of substrates,
A plurality of thin film transistors respectively connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines for supplying a gate signal to the plurality of thin film transistors, and a plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal to the plurality of thin film transistors are provided, A liquid crystal display element, wherein a counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes is provided on an inner surface of a region inside a seal portion corresponding to the seal material on the other substrate. 2. A plurality of gate wiring terminals, data wiring terminals, and a counter electrode terminal are provided on an inner surface of a substrate edge portion protruding outside a seal portion on an inner surface of one substrate provided with a pixel electrode and a thin film transistor. In addition, a cross electrode made of the same metal film as the gate wiring and connected to the counter electrode terminal is provided in a region outside the seal portion on the inner surface of the one substrate, and provided on the inner surface of the other substrate. A cross electrode connecting portion protruding outside the seal portion is formed on the opposite electrode, and the cross electrode and the cross electrode connecting portion are connected by a cross material mixed with conductive particles. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to a region between a plurality of pixel portions facing each other on an inner surface of a region inside the seal portion of the other substrate provided with the counter electrode. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a light-shielding film. 4. A pair of substrates are joined via a frame-shaped sealing material mixed with a gap material defining a gap therebetween, and a liquid crystal layer is formed in a region between the pair of substrates surrounded by the sealing material. And a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix in a region surrounded by the sealant on an inner surface of one of the pair of substrates,
A plurality of thin film transistors respectively connected to the plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of gate lines for supplying a gate signal to the plurality of thin film transistors, and a plurality of data lines for supplying a data signal to the plurality of thin film transistors are provided. A counter electrode facing the plurality of pixel electrodes is provided on the inner surface of the other substrate, and a transparent insulating layer is provided on a region surrounded by the sealant on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of substrates. A liquid crystal display device characterized in that: 5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the counter electrode is formed in a region inside a seal portion corresponding to the seal material.