JP2004086222A - Liquid crystal display and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a decrease in color reproducibility due to uneven spectral characteristics of illuminating light, and to provide a display with good color development and high visibility in both a reflection mode and a transmission mode. Provided is a transflective liquid crystal display device of a color that can be used.
SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel having a pixel 615 including a plurality of sub-pixels 551 each corresponding to a different color, and a lighting device. And a color filter 522 having a color corresponding to each of the sub-pixels 511. The semi-transmissive reflection layer has a light-transmitting portion that transmits illumination light, and is provided in at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels 511. The light transmitting portion is formed such that the area of the light transmitting region corresponding to the light transmitting portion is different from the area of the light transmitting region corresponding to the light transmitting portion of another sub-pixel.
[Selection diagram] FIG.

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and an electronic device, and more particularly, to a transflective liquid crystal display device having good color development in both a reflection mode and a transmission mode and capable of displaying a color with high visibility, and an electronic device including the same. About.

Reflection-type liquid crystal display devices have the advantage of low power consumption because they do not have a light source such as a backlight, and have been widely used for auxiliary display units of various portable electronic devices. ing. However, the reflection type liquid crystal display device has a drawback that it is difficult to visually recognize the display in a dark place because the display uses natural light such as sunlight or external light such as illumination light.

Therefore, there has been proposed a liquid crystal display device in which external light is used in a bright place similarly to a normal reflection type liquid crystal display device, and in a dark place, the display is made visible using an internal light source such as a backlight. . In other words, this liquid crystal display device employs a display system having both a reflective type and a transmissive type. By switching between the reflective mode and the transmissive mode according to the surrounding brightness, the power consumption is reduced. In the case of a reflective display, outside light contributes to the display, whereas in the case of a transmissive display, the external light is emitted from an illumination device (backlight). The light (hereinafter, referred to as “illumination light”) contributes to display.
Hereinafter, in this specification, this type of liquid crystal display device is referred to as a “semi-transmissive reflective liquid crystal display device”.

A transflective liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a pair of substrates, and is provided on a side of the liquid crystal display panel opposite to an observation side and emits light to a substrate surface of the liquid crystal display panel. Generally, an illumination device for irradiating light is provided. Further, a reflective layer (semi-transmissive reflective layer) having a plurality of openings is provided on the substrate on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display panel from the observation side.

In recent years, with the development of portable electronic devices and OA devices, colorization of liquid crystal displays has been required, and even in electronic devices provided with the above-mentioned transflective liquid crystal display device, In many cases, colorization is required.
As a color transflective liquid crystal display device that meets this demand, a transflective liquid crystal display device having a color filter has been proposed. In such a color transflective liquid crystal display device, external light incident on the liquid crystal display device in the reflection mode passes through the color filter, is reflected by the reflector, and passes through the color filter again. Has become. In the transmission mode, light from the backlight is transmitted through the color filters. The same color filter is used in the reflection mode and the transmission mode.

In such a color transflective liquid crystal display device, as described above, a color display is obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and once in the transmission mode.
For this reason, for example, when the display in the reflection mode in which the color filter is transmitted twice is emphasized and a light-colored color filter is provided, the color is good in the transmission mode in which the color filter is transmitted only once. It is difficult to get an indication. However, in order to solve this problem, if a color filter of a dark color is provided with emphasis on display in a transmission mode in which the color filter is transmitted once, a reflection mode in which the color filter is transmitted twice is used. Since the time display becomes dark, sufficient visibility cannot be obtained. As described above, in the conventional color transflective liquid crystal display device, it is difficult to obtain a display with good color development and high visibility in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode.

In addition, in many cases, the luminance (intensity) of illumination light emitted from an illumination device using a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a cold cathode tube is not uniform over all wavelengths in the visible light region. When the transmissive display is performed using light having a non-uniform luminance distribution, the spectral characteristics of light transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel and emitted to the observation side also become non-uniform. As a result, for example, when a transmissive display is performed using illumination light in which the luminance at a wavelength corresponding to blue is higher than the luminance at other wavelengths, the display becomes bluish. However, there is a problem that is reduced.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and even if the spectral characteristics of illumination light used for transmission type display are non-uniform, a reduction in color reproducibility due to this is achieved. In a color transflective liquid crystal display device capable of suppressing reflection and having a reflective mode and a transmissive mode, a color transflective liquid crystal display device that has good color development and high visibility in both the reflective mode and the transmissive mode. It is an object to provide a liquid crystal display device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device including the above-described liquid crystal display device having excellent visibility.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following configurations.
A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates opposed to each other, and having a pixel including a plurality of sub-pixels each corresponding to a different color. A liquid crystal display device comprising: an illumination device that is provided on the side opposite to the observation side and irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with illumination light;
A transflective layer provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal from the observation side and having a translucent portion for transmitting the illumination light, wherein the translucent layer is formed in at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels; A semi-transmissive reflection layer in which the light-transmitting portion is formed such that the area of the light-transmitting region corresponding to the light portion and the area of the light-transmitting region corresponding to the light transmitting portion in the other sub-pixels are different; A color filter which is provided corresponding to the sub-pixel and transmits light having a wavelength corresponding to the color of the sub-pixel.

According to such a liquid crystal display device, of the plurality of sub-pixels constituting the pixel, the ratio of the light transmission region occupying any one of the sub-pixels is made different from the ratio of the light transmission region occupying the other sub-pixels. The substantial light transmittance of the sub-pixel to the illumination light of the illumination device can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, even if there is a variation in the spectral characteristics of the illumination light (brightness, light amount, spectral energy, etc. of the illumination light at each wavelength), this is compensated to reduce the variation in the spectral characteristics of the light emitted from the liquid crystal display panel to the observation side. It is possible to select a display color on the liquid crystal display panel by reducing the ratio or intentionally increasing the ratio of the light transmitting region in the sub-pixel of any color.

Here, in the present invention, it is preferable that the area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is an area corresponding to the spectral characteristic of the illumination light. With this configuration, even when the illumination light has a dispersion in the spectral characteristics, the dispersion is compensated for by making the ratio of the light transmission region occupying each sub-pixel a ratio according to the spectral characteristics. Color reproducibility can be realized. Specifically, it is conceivable that the area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is an area corresponding to the luminance of the illumination light at a wavelength corresponding to the color of the sub-pixel. That is, the area of the light transmission region in the sub-pixel of the color corresponding to the high-luminance wavelength of the illumination light is the area of the light-transmission region in the sub-pixel of the color corresponding to the low-luminance wavelength of the illumination light. If it is smaller than the above, light with high luminance in the illumination light can have relatively low luminance in the observation light, while light with low luminance in the illumination light can have relatively high luminance in the observation light. . In this case, if the area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is made different for each sub-pixel corresponding to a different color (that is, the area of the light transmission region is the same for the sub-pixels corresponding to the same color) This has the advantage that the configuration can be simplified.

分光 In addition, the spectral characteristics of the illumination light may vary depending on the position of the liquid crystal display panel in the substrate surface. In such a case, it is desirable that the area of the light transmitting region in each of the sub-pixels is made different depending on the position of the sub-pixel in the substrate surface of the liquid crystal display panel. This makes it possible to compensate for variations in the spectral characteristics of the illumination light in the substrate surface (ie, the difference between the spectral characteristics at a certain position on the substrate surface and the spectral characteristics at other positions). Color reproducibility can be improved.

As an aspect of the light transmitting portion, it is conceivable that an opening corresponding to each of the sub-pixels is formed in the transflective layer. When this configuration is adopted, the opening can be formed by removing a part of the transflective layer formed in advance by etching or the like, and the manufacturing process can be simplified. Here, it is conceivable to provide one opening for one sub-pixel. In this case, however, the opening concentrates in a partial region of the sub-pixel. In some cases, the display may be rough. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable that the openings are formed such that openings having substantially the same area are separated from each other by a number corresponding to the area of the light transmission region in the sub-pixel. By doing so, the openings can be dispersed over the entire sub-pixel, so that it is possible to avoid the occurrence of the above-described display roughness.

Further, as another mode of the transflective layer in the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, a transflective layer is formed such that a region along at least one of a plurality of sides defining each subpixel is the light transmissive region. The light transmitting portion is formed in the layer.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a liquid crystal display device of the present invention is provided with a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing each other, and provided on an inner surface side of the lower substrate to emit light. A semi-transmissive reflective layer having a light-transmissive region that transmits light and a light reflective region that reflects light incident from the upper substrate side, and provided above the semi-transmissive reflective layer to each sub-pixel forming a display area A transflective display having a color filter in which a plurality of dye layers of correspondingly different colors are arranged, and an illuminating device provided on the outer surface side of the lower substrate, and performing display by switching between a transmissive mode and a reflective mode Liquid crystal display device, wherein each of the dye layers is formed in an entire area that planarly overlaps with the light transmitting area, and in an area that planarly overlaps with the light reflecting area, and at least one color of the dye layer is formed. The dye layer is planar with the light reflection area. Is formed only in a part of the region, the area of the dye layer forming region in which each of the dye layers is formed, the dye layer of at least one of the plurality of dye layers of the different colors, It may be characterized in that it is formed differently from the dye layer.

Such a liquid crystal display device has a structure in which each dye layer is formed in an entire region that planarly overlaps with the light transmitting region and in a region except for a part of the region that planarly overlaps with the light reflecting region. A dye layer forming region in which a dye layer is formed, and a region where each dye layer is not provided in a part of a region that overlaps the light reflection region in a plane (hereinafter, referred to as a “dye layer non-forming region”). Therefore, part of the external light incident on the liquid crystal display device in the reflection mode is transmitted through the non-pigmented layer forming region, and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode is: The light is a combination of the uncolored light passing through the non-dye layer forming region and the colored light passing through the dye layer forming region. On the other hand, all the light incident from the backlight in the transmission mode and transmitted through the light transmission area is transmitted through the dye layer formation area, and all the light obtained by transmitting once through the color filter in the transmission mode is all It becomes colored light. Thus, it is possible to reduce the difference in color density between the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter once in the transmission mode.
As a result, similarly in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development and high visibility display.

Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the area of the dye layer forming region is formed so that at least one of the dye layers is different from the dye layer of another color. The color characteristics of the color filter can be adjusted by changing the area of the dye layer formation region, and color reproducibility can be improved, so that a liquid crystal display device having excellent display quality can be realized. .

In the above liquid crystal display device, the dye layer includes a red layer, a green layer, and a blue layer, and the area of the dye formation region is smaller in the green layer than in the red layer and the blue layer. It is desirable to be provided.
With such a liquid crystal display device, when the dye layer is composed of a red layer, a green layer, and a blue layer, color reproducibility can be further improved, and a liquid crystal having more excellent display quality. A display device can be realized.

Further, in the liquid crystal display device described above, it is preferable that a transparent film for flattening a step between the dye layer forming region and the region where the dye layer is not provided is provided.
With such a liquid crystal display device, the step between the dye layer forming region and the region where the dye layer is not provided causes variations in the cell gap, causing display unevenness, and the like. Can be prevented from being adversely affected by a step with respect to a region where no is provided, and the reliability of the liquid crystal display device can be improved.

In the above liquid crystal display device, the light transmitting region can be formed by opening the transflective layer in a window shape.

In the above liquid crystal display device, a band-shaped transparent electrode is provided on the inner surface side of the lower substrate, and the width of the pattern of the transparent electrode is formed to be larger than the width of the pattern of the semi-transmissive reflective layer. Thereby, the strip-shaped light transmission region may be formed in the semi-transmissive reflection layer.

In the above liquid crystal display device, the transflective layer is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the dye layer includes a blue layer, and the area of the dye layer forming region is blue compared to the red dye layer. Desirably, the layer is provided so as to be small.

In such a liquid crystal display device, since the area of the dye layer forming region is provided so that the blue layer is smaller than the red dye layer, the transflective layer is made of aluminum. Even if the light reflected by the transflective layer is colored blue, it is corrected by transmitting it twice through the color filter, so that a liquid crystal display device with excellent color reproducibility and high display quality can be realized. .

In the above liquid crystal display device, the transflective layer is made of silver or a silver alloy, the dye layer includes a red layer and a blue layer, and the area of the dye layer forming region is a blue dye. It is preferable that the red layer is provided so as to be smaller than the layer and the blue layer is provided so as to be larger.

In such a liquid crystal display device, since the area of the dye layer forming region is provided so that the red layer is smaller and the blue layer is larger than the blue dye layer, Since the reflective layer is made of silver, even if the light reflected by the semi-transmissive reflective layer is colored yellow, the light is corrected by transmitting the color filter twice so that the color reproduction is excellent and the display is high. A high quality liquid crystal display device can be realized.

In the liquid crystal display device described above, it is preferable that the color characteristics of the color filter be adjusted by changing the area of the dye layer formation region.

In such a liquid crystal display device, the difference in color density between light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and light obtained by transmitting the color filter once in the transmission mode is reduced. And the color reproducibility can be improved. As a result, similarly in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development, high visibility display, and excellent color reproducibility.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises a plurality of sub-pixels each having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing each other, each corresponding to a different color. A liquid crystal display panel having pixels constituting a display area, and an illuminating device provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal display panel from the observation side (outer surface side of the lower substrate) to irradiate the liquid crystal display panel with illumination light And
A semi-transmissive reflective layer provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal layer from the observation side (the inner surface side of the lower substrate); and a semi-transmissive reflective layer provided above the semi-transmissive reflective layer and different for each of the sub-pixels A transflective liquid crystal display in which a plurality of color pigment layers are arranged, and a color filter that transmits light having a wavelength corresponding to the color of the sub-pixel is provided, and display is performed by switching between a transmission mode and a reflection mode. A device,
The semi-transmissive reflective layer has a light-transmitting portion that transmits the illumination light, and the semi-transmissive reflective layer has a light-transmissive region that transmits light and a light-reflective region that reflects light incident from the upper substrate side. Has,
The transmissive area of at least one sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels is different such that the area of the light transmissive area corresponding to the transmissive section in another sub-pixel is different from the area of the light transmissive area of the other sub-pixels. A light part is formed,
Each of the dye layers is formed in an entire region that planarly overlaps with the light transmitting region and in a region that planarly overlaps with the light reflective region, and the dye layer of at least one color is planar with the light reflective region. Is formed only in part of the region where
The area of the dye layer non-formed area where the respective dye layers are not formed in at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels is different from the area of the dye layer non-formed area in the other sub-pixels. It may be.

In such a liquid crystal display device, the area of the light transmitting region corresponding to the light transmitting portion in at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels and the light transmitting region corresponding to the light transmitting portion in the other sub-pixels are different. The light-transmitting portion is formed so as to have a different area, and the area of the dye layer non-formed region where the respective dye layers are not formed in at least one sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels, and in the other sub-pixels The area of the non-dye layer forming region is different.

Therefore, in such a liquid crystal display device, the display ratio is changed by changing the ratio of the light transmitting region and the light reflecting region occupied by one of the plurality of sub-pixels to the other sub-pixels. While adjusting the color and the brightness, the ratio of the area of the dye layer forming region and the area of the dye layer non-forming region is changed between the dye layer of at least one of the dye layers and the dye layer of the other color. By adjusting the color characteristics of the color filters, the display color and brightness can be adjusted.

In the conventional transflective liquid crystal display device, if the transmittance is improved by enlarging the light transmission region so as to obtain a bright display in the transmission mode, the reflectance decreases and the display in the reflection mode becomes dark. Because of the inconvenience, it has been difficult to realize a transflective liquid crystal display device that can provide a bright display in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode.

On the other hand, in the liquid crystal display device described above, in order to obtain a bright display in the transmission mode, the light transmission region is increased to improve the transmittance, and even if the light reflection region is reduced, the dye layer non-forming region By increasing the area, it is possible to obtain a sufficient reflectance to obtain a bright display in the reflection mode, so that there is no inconvenience that the display in the reflection mode becomes dark.
Therefore, according to the liquid crystal display device described above, the brightness can be effectively adjusted, and a bright display can be performed in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode.

Furthermore, in such a liquid crystal display device, the display color is adjusted by changing the ratio of the light transmitting region and the light reflecting region occupying each sub-pixel, and the dye layer forming region of each dye layer and the non-dye layer are not changed. By changing the ratio of the area to the formation area and adjusting the color characteristics of the color filter, the display color can be adjusted. Therefore, the display color can be effectively adjusted, and a very excellent color can be obtained. Reproducibility is obtained.

In addition, since the above liquid crystal display device has the dye layer forming region and the dye layer non-forming region, the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and the light passing through the color filter once in the transmission mode are used. The transflective liquid crystal display device of the present invention can reduce the difference in shade of color from the light obtained by performing the same, and in the same manner in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, the color is good and the display is highly visible. Can be realized.
As a result, by using the above-described liquid crystal display device, a color transflective liquid crystal display device having extremely excellent display quality can be realized.

In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the liquid crystal display devices described above.
For example, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can be used as a display device of various electronic devices such as various display devices such as a television and a monitor, a communication device such as a mobile phone and a PDA, or an information processing device such as a personal computer. it can. According to such an electronic device, even if there is a variation in the spectral characteristics of the illumination light, a display having high color reproducibility can be realized by compensating for the variation, and an electronic device having a liquid crystal display device having excellent visibility can be realized. Since the device can be a device, it is particularly suitable for an electronic device that requires high-quality display.

As described above, according to the present invention, the ratio of the light-transmitting region in each sub-pixel is a ratio corresponding to the spectral characteristic of the illumination light. Even if the characteristics are not uniform, it is possible to suppress a decrease in color reproducibility due to this.

Further, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, each of the dye layers is formed in an entire area overlapping the light transmitting area in a plane and an area excluding a part of the area overlapping the light reflecting area in a plane. Since there is a dye layer forming region in which each dye layer is formed and a dye layer non-forming region in a part of the region which overlaps the light reflection region in a plane, by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode, The obtained light is light obtained by combining uncolored light passing through the non-dye layer forming region and colored light transmitting through the dye layer forming region. On the other hand, light obtained by transmitting the color filter once in the transmission mode is all colored light. Thus, it is possible to reduce the difference in color density between the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter once in the transmission mode.

As a result, similarly in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development and high visibility display.
Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the area of the dye layer forming region is formed so that at least one of the dye layers is different from the dye layer of another color. The color characteristics of the color filter can be adjusted by changing the area of the dye layer formation region, color reproducibility can be improved, and a liquid crystal display device having excellent display quality can be realized.

Further, in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, by providing a transparent film for flattening a step between the dye layer forming region and the region where the dye layer is not provided, the dye layer forming region and the dye An adverse effect due to a step with a region where no layer is provided can be prevented, and the reliability of the liquid crystal display device can be improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. These embodiments show one aspect of the present invention, and do not limit the present invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the present invention.

<A: First Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display Device>
First, a first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a passive matrix type transflective liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1 and each of the drawings shown below, the scale of each layer and each member is different so that each layer and each member have a size that can be recognized in the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal (liquid crystal layer) 4 is sandwiched between a first substrate (upper substrate) 3 and a second substrate (lower substrate) 2 bonded together via a sealing material 503. It has a liquid crystal display panel (liquid crystal panel) 500 having a simple configuration, and an illumination device (a so-called backlight unit) 5 provided on the second substrate 2 side of the liquid crystal display panel 500. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the side opposite to the lighting device 5 with respect to the liquid crystal display panel 500 is referred to as “observation side”. That is, the “observation side” is a side where an observer who visually recognizes an image displayed by the liquid crystal display device is located.

The lighting device 5 includes a plurality of LEDs 621 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) and a light guide plate 622. The plurality of LEDs 621 are arranged so as to face the side end surface of the light guide plate 622, and irradiate light to the side end surface. The light guide plate 622 is a plate-like member for uniformly guiding the light from the LED 621 incident on the side end surface to the substrate surface of the liquid crystal display panel 500 (the surface of the second substrate 2). On the surface of the light guide plate 622 facing the liquid crystal display panel 500, a diffusion plate or the like for uniformly diffusing light emitted from the light guide plate 622 to the liquid crystal display panel 500 is attached. On the surface on the side opposite to the above, a reflector for reflecting light traveling from the light guide plate 622 to the side opposite to the liquid crystal display panel 500 toward the liquid crystal display panel 500 is attached (both are not shown).

Here, FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the spectral characteristics (relationship between the wavelength of the illumination light and the luminance) of the illumination light emitted from the illumination device 5 to the liquid crystal display panel 500.
That is, in the graph shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal axis represents the wavelength, and the vertical axis represents the luminance of the illumination light at each wavelength, relative to a case where the predetermined luminance is a reference value “1.00”. It is shown as a value. As shown in this figure, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the luminance of the illumination light varies over the wavelength in the visible light region, that is, the spectral characteristics of the illumination light are non-uniform. Specifically, the illumination light in the present embodiment has the maximum luminance at a wavelength near 470 nm corresponding to blue light or green light, while the luminance at a wavelength of about 520 nm or more corresponding to yellow light or red light has It is weaker than. Although the details will be described later, according to the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, even when the transmission type display is performed using the illumination light having the dispersion of the spectral characteristics, the liquid crystal display panel 500 can be viewed from the observation side. To achieve good color reproducibility by suppressing light emitted to the light (that is, light visually recognized by an observer; hereinafter, referred to as “observation light”) from being affected by such variations in spectral characteristics. Can be.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that illumination light having the spectral characteristics shown in FIG. 2 is irradiated over the entire substrate surface of the liquid crystal display panel 500.

In FIG. 1 again, the first substrate 3 and the second substrate 2 of the liquid crystal display panel 500 are plate members having optical transparency, such as glass, quartz, and plastic.

複数 A plurality of transparent electrodes 511 are formed on the inner surface (the liquid crystal 4 side) of the first substrate 3. Each transparent electrode 511 is a band-shaped electrode extending in a predetermined direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1), and is formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide). Further, the surface of the first substrate 3 on which the transparent electrodes 511 are formed is covered with the alignment film 15. The alignment film 15 is an organic thin film such as polyimide, and has been subjected to a rubbing process for defining the alignment direction of the liquid crystal 4 when no voltage is applied.

{Circle around (1)} On the outer surface side (outer surface) of the first substrate 3, a retardation plate 17 and an upper polarizing plate 13 are provided on the first substrate 3 in this order.

On the other hand, a reflective layer (semi-transmissive reflective layer) 521 having a plurality of openings 521a (details will be described later) is provided on the inner surface (the liquid crystal 4 side) of the second substrate 2 to provide light reflectivity such as aluminum or silver. It is formed by the material which has. The incident light from the observation side of the liquid crystal display panel 500 is reflected on the surface of the transflective layer 521 (more precisely, the surface other than the area where the opening 521a is formed) and is emitted to the observation side. A reflective display is realized. The inner surface of the second substrate 2 is roughened in order to form a scattering structure (unevenness) on the surface of the transflective layer 521, but is not shown.

{Circle around (1)} On the outer surface side (outer surface) of the second substrate 2, a quarter-wave plate 18 and a lower polarizing plate 14 are provided.

Further, the color filter 522 (522R, 522G, 522B) and the light shielding layer 523, and the irregularities formed by the color filter 522 and the light shielding layer 523 are formed on the inner surface of the second substrate 2 covered by the transflective layer 521. An overcoat layer (flattening film) 524 for flattening the substrate, a plurality of transparent electrodes 525, and an alignment film 9 similar to the alignment film 15 are formed.

Each transparent electrode 525 is a strip-shaped electrode formed on the surface of the overcoat layer 524 by a transparent conductive material. Here, FIG. 3 schematically shows the positional relationship between the transparent electrode 511 on the first substrate 3 (indicated by a dashed line) and the transparent electrode 525 and the color filter 522 on the second substrate 2. It is shown. As shown in the figure, the transparent electrode 525 extends in a direction intersecting the transparent electrode 511 (a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). The orientation of the liquid crystal 4 sandwiched between the first substrate 3 and the second substrate 2 changes when a voltage is applied between the transparent electrode 511 and the transparent electrode 525. Hereinafter, as shown in FIG. 3, a region where the transparent electrode 511 and the transparent electrode 525 face each other is referred to as “sub-pixel 551 (551R, 551G, and 551B)”. That is, the sub-pixel 551 can be regarded as a minimum unit of a region in which the alignment direction of the liquid crystal changes according to the application of the voltage.

The light-shielding layer 523 is formed in a lattice shape so as to cover a gap portion between the sub-pixels 551 arranged in a matrix (that is, a region other than a region where the transparent electrode 511 and the transparent electrode 525 face each other). It plays the role of shielding the gaps between them. The color filter 522 is a layer formed of a resin material or the like corresponding to each sub-pixel 551. As shown in FIG. 3, R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are formed by dyes and pigments. Is colored in any of the above. Hereinafter, the sub-pixels 551 corresponding to the color filters 522R, 522G, and 522B are described as sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B, respectively. Then, a pixel (dot) 615 that is a minimum unit of a display image is formed by the three sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B having different colors.

Here, FIG. 4 shows the transmittance characteristics of each of the color filters 522R, 522G, and 522B, where the horizontal axis represents the wavelength of light incident on the color filter 522, and the vertical axis represents the transmittance (the ratio of the amount of emitted light to the amount of incident light). It is a graph showing. As shown in the figure, the color filter 522R has a high transmittance for light having a wavelength of 600 nm or more corresponding to red, and the color filter 522G has a high transmittance for light having a wavelength of 500 to 600 nm corresponding to green. The color filter 522G has a high transmittance for light having a wavelength of 400 to 500 nm corresponding to blue.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3 again, an embodiment of the opening 521a formed in the transflective layer 521 will be described.

First, each opening 521 a is provided in the semi-transmissive reflection layer 521 near the center of each sub-pixel 551. The illumination light from the illumination device 5 passes through the opening 521a and is emitted to the observation side of the liquid crystal display panel 500, whereby a transmission type display is realized. Hereinafter, of the region occupied by the sub-pixels 551, a region corresponding to the opening 521a, that is, a region through which the illumination light from the illumination device 5 is transmitted is referred to as a “light-transmitting region (light transmitting region)”.

Further, the openings 521a formed in the transflective layer 521 are formed such that the areas of the light-transmitting regions are different from each other in each of the three sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B constituting one pixel 615. The area is selected. More specifically, the area of the opening 521a corresponding to each of the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is an area corresponding to the spectral characteristics of the illumination light emitted from the illumination device 5.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, of the illumination light emitted from the illumination device 5, the luminance at a wavelength from blue light to green light is high, and the luminance at a wavelength corresponding to red light is relatively high. It is lower. Therefore, as for the sub-pixel 551G in which the green color filter 522G corresponding to the wavelength with the highest luminance is formed, the area of the opening 521a corresponding to the sub-pixel 551G is smaller than that of the sub-pixels 551R and 551B corresponding to other colors. It is getting smaller. On the other hand, as for the sub-pixel 551R in which the red color filter 522R corresponding to the wavelength of the lowest luminance of the illumination light is formed, the area of the opening 521a corresponding to this is the same as the sub-pixels 551G and 551B of the other colors. It is bigger than that. FIG. 3 illustrates a case where the area ratio of the opening 521a corresponding to each of the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is “sub-pixel 551R: 551G: 551B = 4: 1: 2”.

Here, FIG. 5 is a graph showing the spectral characteristics of observation light emitted from the liquid crystal display panel 500 to the observation side when performing transmissive display with the above-described configuration. On the other hand, in FIG. 6, as a comparison with FIG. 5, transmissive display is performed under a configuration in which the translucent region has the same area over all the sub-pixels 551 (hereinafter, referred to as “conventional configuration”). The spectral characteristics of the observation light in the case are shown. In each of the drawings, the spectral characteristics of the observation light when transmission type display is performed using the illumination light having the spectral characteristics shown in FIG. 2 are shown. In each of FIGS. 5 and 6, the horizontal axis indicates the wavelength, and the vertical axis indicates the luminance of each observation light, which is a predetermined luminance (the same luminance in both FIGS. 5 and 6). Is a relative value when the reference value is set to “1.00”.

場合 As shown in FIG. 6, when the conventional configuration is adopted, the observation light visually recognized by the observer becomes light with extremely high luminance near a wavelength of 470 nm. Therefore, the image recognized by the observer is a bluish green image. On the other hand, when the configuration according to the present embodiment in which the ratio of the light-transmitting regions in the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is 4: 1: 2, as shown in FIG. The luminance is lower than the case shown in FIG. Therefore, even when the transmissive display is performed using the illumination light whose luminance at the wavelengths corresponding to blue to green is higher than the luminance at the other wavelengths, the image visually recognized by the observer becomes bluish green. That situation can be avoided.

As described above, according to the configuration according to the present embodiment, of the illumination light, light of a wavelength having a relatively low luminance is sufficiently transmitted through the semi-transmissive reflection layer 521, while light of a wavelength having a relatively high luminance is transmitted. By limiting the transmission of the transflective layer 521, it is possible to suppress the influence that the variation in the spectral characteristics of the illumination light may have on the observation light. That is, excellent color reproducibility can be realized by compensating for the non-uniformity of the spectral characteristics of the illumination light.

<B: Second Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display>
Next, a second embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an active matrix type transflective liquid crystal display device will be described. Hereinafter, a case where a TFD (Thin Film Diode) which is a two-terminal switching element is used as the switching element will be exemplified. Further, among the elements in the drawings shown below, the elements common to the elements shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 and the description thereof is omitted.

First, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a main configuration of a liquid crystal display panel included in the liquid crystal display device. is there. A sectional view taken along line A-A 'in FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. As shown in these drawings, on the inner surface of the first substrate 3, a plurality of pixel electrodes 513 arranged in a matrix are arranged in a predetermined direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 7) in a gap between the pixel electrodes 513. A plurality of scanning lines 514 extending are formed. Each pixel electrode 513 is formed of, for example, a transparent conductive material such as ITO. Further, each pixel electrode 513 and a scanning line 514 adjacent to the pixel electrode 513 are connected via a TFD 515. Each TFD 515 is a two-terminal switching element having a non-linear current-voltage characteristic.

On the other hand, as in the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment, a semi-transmissive reflective layer 521 having a plurality of openings 521a, a color filter 522 and a light-shielding layer 523, And an overcoat layer 524 that covers the surface of the second substrate 2 on which is formed. Further, on the surface of the overcoat layer 524, a plurality of data lines 527 extending in a direction intersecting the scanning lines 514 are formed. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, each data line 527 is a strip-shaped electrode formed of a transparent conductive material. Here, FIG. 9 shows the positional relationship between each pixel electrode 513 (indicated by a dashed line) and each data line 527. As shown in the figure, each data line 527 faces a plurality of pixel electrodes 513 forming a column on the first substrate 3. Under such a configuration, when a voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 513 on the first substrate 3 and the data line 527 on the second substrate 2, the alignment state of the liquid crystal 4 sandwiched between both electrodes changes. . That is, in the present embodiment, the region where each pixel electrode 513 faces each data line 527 is the sub-pixel 551 (more specifically, the sub-pixels 551R and 551G corresponding to the color filters 522R, 522G, and 522B, respectively). And 551B).

As in the first embodiment, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, an opening 521a is formed in the semi-transmissive reflective layer 521 at a position corresponding to the vicinity of the center of each sub-pixel 551. . The area of each opening 521a is determined such that the ratio of the light-transmitting region in each of the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B becomes a ratio corresponding to the spectral characteristic of the illumination light from the illumination device 5. I have. Here, also in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the transmissive display is performed using the illumination light having the spectral characteristics shown in FIG. Therefore, in the sub-pixel 551G in which the green color filter 522G corresponding to the wavelength of the highest luminance of the illumination light is formed, the area of the opening 521a corresponding thereto is the sub-pixel 551R or 551B corresponding to the other color. Is smaller than the area of the opening portion 521a corresponding to the above.

That is, the ratio of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel 551G is smaller than the ratio of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel 551R or 551B of another color. On the other hand, for the sub-pixel 551R corresponding to the wavelength of the lowest luminance of the illumination light, the area of the opening 521a is large, and the ratio of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel 551R is different from that of the sub-pixels 551G of the other colors. It is larger than 551B. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the case where the area ratio of the opening 521a corresponding to each of the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is set to “4: 1: 2” is illustrated.
With this configuration, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

<C: Third Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display Device>
In the first and second embodiments, the opening 521 a is provided near the center of the region corresponding to each sub-pixel 551 in the transflective layer 521, and the light-transmitting region is located at the center of each sub-pixel 551. An example of the configuration is shown. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the light transmitting region is a region along the edge of each sub-pixel 551.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. Elements common to the elements shown in FIG. 1 among the elements shown in FIG. 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As shown in the figure, in the liquid crystal panel 500 according to the present embodiment, a color filter 522 (522R, 522G and 522B), a light shielding layer 523 and an overcoat layer 524 are formed on the first substrate 3, This is different from the liquid crystal panel 500 shown in each of the above embodiments in that the transparent electrode 511 and the alignment film 15 are formed on the surface of the overcoat layer. Further, the transmittance characteristics of the color filters 522 in the present embodiment are different from the transmittance characteristics of the color filters 522 in the above embodiments shown in FIG.

Here, FIG. 11 is a graph showing the transmittance characteristics of each of the color filters 522R, 522G, and 522B in the present embodiment. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 4 with FIG. 4 described above, the color purity of each color filter 522 according to the present embodiment, in particular, the color purity of the color filter 522G corresponding to green, is the same as that of the color filter 522 according to the above embodiment. It is higher than purity. More specifically, it is as follows.

Here, a numerical value Tmax / Tmin obtained by setting the maximum transmittance of each color filter 522 in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm as Tmax and the minimum transmittance in the same wavelength range as Tmin is a parameter for evaluating color purity (that is, Tmax / Tmin). , The higher the numerical value Tmax / Tmin, the higher the color purity). At this time, the numerical value Tmax / Tmin of the green color filter 522G shown in FIG. 4 is “1.8”, whereas the numerical value Tmax / Tmin of the color filter 522G according to the present embodiment is “8”. It can be seen that the color purity of the color filter 522G according to the present embodiment is significantly higher than the color purity of the color filter 522G according to the embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the mode of the transflective layer 528 is different from those of the first and second embodiments. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the semi-transmissive reflection layer 521 (more specifically, the opening 521a of the semi-transmissive reflection layer 521 is formed so that the region located at the center of each sub-pixel 551 becomes a translucent region. Configuration) is exemplified. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, a region along two opposing sides (two sides extending in the Y direction) of the four sides defining each of the substantially rectangular sub-pixels 551 is a light-transmitting region. The shape of the transflective layer 528 is selected. Hereinafter, the specific shape of the transflective layer 528 will be described with reference to FIG.

半 As shown in FIG. 12, the transflective layer 528 in the present embodiment has a plurality of portions extending in the Y direction on the second substrate 2. On the other hand, the transparent electrode 525 has the same shape as that shown in the above embodiment, except that it is formed so as to cover the transflective layer 528. As described above, the transflective layer 528 in the present embodiment is formed in a stripe shape so as to correspond to each transparent electrode 525. In other words, it can be said that the translucent reflective layer 528 is formed with a translucent portion (a portion through which the illumination light from the illumination device is transmitted) 528a along the gap between the transparent electrodes 525. As a result of the translucent portion 528 a having such a shape being formed on the semi-transmissive reflective layer 528, as shown in FIG. 12, of the four sides defining the periphery of each of the substantially rectangular sub-pixels 551, A region along the extending opposite side functions as a light transmitting region.

In this embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, the area of the light-transmitting region occupying at least one sub-pixel 551 is different from the area of the light-transmitting region occupying the other sub-pixel 551. As described above, the shape of the transflective layer 528 is selected.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, the width Wr of the reflective layer corresponding to the column of the sub-pixel 551R is substantially equal to the width Wb of the reflective layer corresponding to the column of the sub-pixel 551B. The width Wb of the reflective layer corresponding to the column is wider than the width Wr and the width Wb. Therefore, the area Sr of the light-transmitting region occupying the sub-pixel 551R is substantially equal to the area Sb of the light-transmitting region occupying the sub-pixel 551B, and the area Sg of the light-transmitting region occupying the sub-pixel 551G is larger than the area Sr or the area Sb. Is also small.
Here, it is assumed that the ratio of the area Sr, the area Sg, and the area Sb is “Sr: Sg: Sb = 1.5: 1: 1.5”.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmittance of the green color filter 522G shown in the embodiment is significantly higher than the transmittance of the other color filter 522R or 522B. Therefore, in order to perform ideal white display using the color filter 522 having the transmittance characteristics shown in FIG. 4 (that is, to compensate for color reproducibility), the area of the translucent region occupying the green sub-pixel 551G Needs to be significantly smaller than the area of the light-transmitting region occupying the sub-pixel 551R or 551B of another color. On the other hand, the color filter 522G whose transmittance characteristic is shown in FIG. 11 has a lower transmittance than the color filter 522G shown in FIG. It is not necessary to secure the difference between the color filter 522 shown in FIG. 4 and the area of the light-transmitting region occupying the sub-pixel 551R or 551B of another color as large as that in the case where the color filter 522 shown in FIG. That is, by using the color filter 522G whose transmittance characteristic is shown in FIG. 11, it is not necessary to make the area of the light-transmitting region occupying the green sub-pixel 551G so small.

Here, FIG. 13 is a CIE chromaticity diagram showing a color coordinate table of colors displayed by the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 13, the color coordinates of the color displayed by the liquid crystal display device having the conventional configuration are shown as a comparative example of the present embodiment. Note that the liquid crystal display device having the “conventional configuration” is a liquid crystal display device having a configuration in which a color filter having transmittance characteristics shown in FIG. 13 is used and the area of the light transmitting region is the same for all sub-pixels. .

In the CIE chromaticity diagram, the color coordinates when ideal white display is performed are approximately (x, y) = (0.310, 0.316). In FIG. It is shown. As is clear from the figure, the color coordinates when white display is performed by the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment are compared with the color coordinates when white display is performed by the conventional liquid crystal display device. , Approaching the ideal white display color coordinates. That is, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, it can be said that good color reproducibility is realized.

According to the present embodiment, as in the above embodiments, the effect that the variation in the spectral characteristics of the illumination light that can be exerted on the observation light is suppressed, and an effect of achieving good color reproducibility is obtained.

As described in the present embodiment and each of the above embodiments, in the present invention, the ratio of the light-transmitting region in any of the sub-pixels constituting the pixel and the light-transmitting If the ratio of the regions is different, the mode of the light-transmitting region in each sub-pixel, that is, the mode of the light-transmitting portion (the opening 521a or the light-transmitting portion 528a) in the semi-transmissive reflective layer 521 is arbitrary. Good. Further, the “light-transmitting portion” in the present invention means “the portion of the semi-transmissive reflective layer that transmits the illumination light from the lighting device”, and has an opening (that is, a hole) formed in the semi-transmissive reflective layer. It is not limited.

<D: Modification>
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications can be made to the above embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the following modifications can be considered.

<D-1: Modification 1>
In the first and second embodiments, the area of the opening 521a corresponding to each sub-pixel 551 is made different according to the spectral characteristics of the illumination light from the illumination device 5, but as described below. Is also good. That is, as shown in FIG. 14, the area of each opening 521a provided in the transflective layer 521 is made substantially the same, and the number of openings 521a provided corresponding to each sub-pixel 551 is determined by the number of illumination light. The number is determined according to the spectral characteristics.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the area ratio of the openings 521a corresponding to the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is set to “4: 1: 2” according to the spectral characteristics of the illumination light shown in FIG. However, in the present modification, as shown in FIG. 14, the ratio of the number of openings 521a corresponding to the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is set to "4: 1: 2". Even in such a configuration, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained. Furthermore, as described in each of the above embodiments, when the openings 521a are formed corresponding to only a part of each sub-pixel 551, the positions of the openings 521a in each sub-pixel 615 are biased. It is conceivable that the image visually recognized may cause roughness, but according to the configuration shown in the present modification, the openings 521a can be scattered in each of the sub-pixels 551, so that such a problem is avoided. There is an advantage that can be.

<D-2: Modification 2>
In each of the above embodiments, the ratio of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel 551 differs for each sub-pixel 551 corresponding to the same color. If the spectral characteristics of the illumination light from the illumination device 5 are the same over the entire surface of the substrate surface of the liquid crystal display panel 500, the non-uniformity of the spectral characteristics of the illumination light is sufficiently compensated even when such a configuration is adopted. It is possible. However, the spectral characteristics of the illuminating light from the illuminating device 5 may be different at each location in the substrate plane. For example, an illumination light having a spectral characteristic shown in FIG. 2 is applied to a certain portion in the substrate surface, while an illumination light having a different spectral characteristic from that shown in FIG. 2 is applied to another portion. And so on. In such a case, the ratio of the light-transmitting region may be changed according to the position of each sub-pixel 551 in the substrate surface (that is, the area of the opening 521a may be changed). For example, in the pixel 615 located at a position irradiated with the illumination light having the spectral characteristic shown in FIG. 2, the area ratio of the light-transmitting region in each of the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is set to “4: 1: 2”. On the other hand, in the pixel 615 where the illumination light whose luminance is slightly lower from blue light to green light than the illumination light is irradiated, the area ratio of the translucent region in each of the sub-pixels 551R, 551G, and 551B is reduced. For example, “3: 1: 2”. As described above, the ratio of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel 551 corresponding to the same color does not necessarily need to be the same for all the sub-pixels 551. According to this modification, in addition to the effects shown in the above embodiments, even when the spectral characteristics of the illumination light are non-uniform in the substrate plane, this can be compensated for, so that the color reproducibility can be assuredly improved. Can be improved.

<D-3: Modification 3>
In each of the above embodiments, the case where the illumination light from the illumination device has the spectral characteristics shown in FIG. 2 has been exemplified. However, it goes without saying that the spectral characteristics of the illumination light are not limited to this. That is, even when illumination light having a spectral characteristic different from that of FIG. 2 is used for transmission display, for example, the area of the light-transmitting region in a sub-pixel of a color corresponding to a wavelength having a high luminance in the illumination light is determined by Is smaller than the area of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel of the color corresponding to the lower wavelength, and if the area according to the spectral characteristics of the illumination light is compensated for, the dispersion of the spectral characteristics of the illumination light can be compensated for. The effect that color reproducibility can be realized can be obtained.

Furthermore, the area of the translucent region in each sub-pixel does not necessarily have to correspond to the spectral characteristics of the illumination light. For example, regardless of the spectral characteristics of the illumination light, the area of the light-transmitting region in the sub-pixel 551G corresponding to green or the sub-pixel 551B corresponding to blue (that is, the area of the opening 521a corresponding to these sub-pixels 551). Is larger than the area of the translucent region in the sub-pixel 551R corresponding to red, the display can be intentionally bluish green. That is, in the present invention, the area of the opening 521a in the semi-transmissive reflective layer 521 is selected such that the area of the light-transmitting region in one sub-pixel 551 is different from the area of the light-transmitting region in the other sub-pixel 551. It just needs to be.

<D-4: Modification 4>
In the above-described third embodiment, a case has been described in which a region along two opposing sides of the four sides defining each sub-pixel is a light-transmitting region, but one of these four sides, three, or The shape of the semi-transmissive reflective layer 528 may be selected so that the area along all sides (four sides) is a light-transmitting area. That is, when the translucent region is a region along the edge of the sub-pixel, a region along at least one of the plurality of sides defining each sub-pixel may be the translucent region. Further, in the third embodiment, the transflective layer 528 having a shape extending over a plurality of sub-pixels 551 is illustrated. However, the transflective layer 528 may have a shape that is separated for each sub-pixel 551.

<D-5: Modification 5>
In each of the above embodiments, the case where the color filters 522 of the same color adopt the stripe arrangement forming one line is exemplified. However, as an aspect of the arrangement of the color filters 522, a mosaic arrangement or a delta arrangement is also employed. You can also.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the transflective layer 521 is formed on the inner surface of the second substrate 2 is illustrated. However, it is also conceivable to form the reflective layer on the outer surface of the second substrate 2. The point is that the transflective layer 521 only needs to be located on the opposite side of the liquid crystal 4 from the observation side.

<D-6: Modification 6>
In the second embodiment, an active matrix type liquid crystal display device employing the TFD 515 as a switching element has been described as an example. However, the application range of the present invention is not limited to this, and is typified by a TFT (Thin Film Transistor). The present invention can also be applied to a liquid crystal display device employing a three-terminal switching element. When a TFT is used, a counter electrode is formed over the entire surface of one substrate, and a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines are formed on the other substrate so as to extend in a direction crossing each other. At the same time, pixel electrodes connected to both of these via TFTs are arranged in a matrix. In this case, a region where each pixel electrode and the counter electrode face each other functions as a sub-pixel.

<D-7: Modification 7>
In each of the above embodiments, the case where the transflective layer 521 and the transparent electrode 525 (the data line 527 in the second embodiment) are formed separately has been described as an example, but the electrode for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal 4 is described. May be formed of a conductive material having light reflectivity, and this electrode may also have a function as the transflective layer 521. That is, instead of providing the transflective layer 521 shown in FIG. 1, a reflective electrode having a similar shape is provided instead of the transparent electrode 525. In this case, a part of a region corresponding to each sub-pixel of the reflective electrode (that is, a region facing the transparent electrode 511 on the first substrate 3) is partially provided with the aspect illustrated in each of the above embodiments and each of the modifications. An opening will be provided.

<E: Fourth Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display Device>
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and a portion illustrating an example of a passive matrix type transflective color liquid crystal display device in which a color filter is provided on the inner surface side of a lower substrate. It is sectional drawing. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer, the color filter, and the light shielding film in the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 15. FIG. 16A illustrates an overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ shown in FIG. 16A.
In the following drawings, the thickness of each component, the ratio of dimensions, and the like are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

The liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 15 includes a liquid crystal panel (liquid crystal display panel) 1 and a backlight (illumination device) 5 provided on the rear surface side (outer surface side of the lower substrate 2) of the liquid crystal panel 1. It is schematically configured.

{Circle around (1)} The liquid crystal panel 1 is schematically configured such that a liquid crystal layer 4 made of STN (Super Twisted Nematic) liquid crystal or the like is sandwiched in a space sandwiched between the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 which are opposed to each other.

The lower substrate 2 is made of glass, resin, or the like. A transflective layer 6 is provided on the inner surface side of the lower substrate 2, and a color filter 10 is laminated on the upper side of the transflective layer 6. A light-shielding film 41 made of a black resin material or the like is provided between the respective dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B constituting the color filter 10. Further, a transparent flattening film 12 for flattening irregularities formed by the color filter 10 is laminated on the color filter 10. Further, on the planarization film 12, a stripe-shaped transparent electrode (segment electrode) 8 made of a transparent conductive film such as indium tin oxide (hereinafter, abbreviated as "ITO") is formed in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper. And an alignment film 9 made of polyimide or the like is provided above the transparent electrode 8 so as to cover the transparent electrode 8.

{Circle around (4)} On the outer surface side of the lower substrate 2, a quarter-wave plate 18, a lower polarizer 14, and a reflective polarizer 19 are provided.

On the other hand, the upper substrate 3 is made of glass, resin, or the like, and a stripe-shaped transparent electrode (common electrode) 7 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is provided on the lower substrate 2 on the inner surface side of the upper substrate 3. An alignment film 15 made of polyimide or the like is provided so as to extend in a direction (horizontal direction in the drawing) orthogonal to the provided transparent electrode 8 and cover the transparent electrode 7 below the transparent electrode 7.

前方 Further, on the outer surface side of the upper substrate 3, a forward scattering plate 16, a phase difference plate 17, and an upper polarizing plate 13 are provided on the upper substrate 3 in this order.

反射 Also, on the lower surface side of the backlight 5 (on the side opposite to the liquid crystal panel 1), a reflection plate 51 is provided.

Next, planar overlapping of the transflective layer 6 and the color filter 10 in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 15 will be described.

The transflective layer 6 is made of a metal film having a high reflectance, such as aluminum, and is formed by opening the metal film in a window shape as shown in FIG. Each pixel has a light transmitting region 6a for transmitting light incident from the upper substrate 3 side and a light reflecting region 6b for reflecting light incident from the upper substrate 3 side.

On the other hand, the color filters 10 are provided corresponding to the respective pixels constituting the display area, and are orthogonal to the transparent electrodes 7 provided on the above-mentioned upper substrate 3 so that the red layer 11R, the green layer 11G, and the blue layer 11B extend in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and have the dye layer 11 repeatedly arranged in the order of the red layer 11R, the green layer 11G, and the blue layer 11B.

As shown in FIG. 16, each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B has an entire area overlapping the light transmitting area 6a of the semi-transmissive reflective layer 6 in a plane, and each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B has an opening in a window shape. Thus, the light-reflecting region 6b of the transflective layer 6 is provided in a region excluding a part of a region that overlaps with the light-reflecting region 6b. As a result, the color filter 10 is a part of the dye layer forming region where the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B are provided, and a part of the region that overlaps the light reflection region 6b in a planar manner. Dye layer non-formation regions 11D, 11E, and 11F, which are regions where 11G and 11B are not provided, are present. Further, in this liquid crystal display device, the area of the dye layer forming region, that is, the area of each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B is provided so as to decrease in the order of the red layer 11R, the blue layer 11B, and the green layer 11G. I have.

In such a liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIG. 15, the external light 30a incident on the liquid crystal display device from the upper substrate 3 side in the reflection mode passes through the color filter 10 and the light reflection area of the semi-transmissive reflection layer 6. The light is reflected by 6b, passes through the color filter 10 again, and is emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside. External light 30b that has entered the liquid crystal display device from the upper substrate 3 side in the reflection mode is reflected by the light reflection region 6b without passing through the color filter 10, and is emitted outward from the upper substrate 3 side. External light 30c incident on the liquid crystal display device from the upper substrate 3 side in the reflection mode passes through the light transmission region 6a, and thus does not become reflected light.

That is, the reflected light includes light 30a transmitting through each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B and light 30b transmitting through the non-dye layer forming regions 11D, 11E, and 11F, and transmitting through the respective dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B. Only the light 30a is colored, and the light 30b transmitted through the non-dye layer forming regions 11D, 11E, 11F is not colored.

Therefore, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the reflection mode is transmitted through the colored light 30a transmitted through each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B and the colored layer non-formation regions 11D, 11E, and 11F. The light is combined with the uncolored light 30b.

{Circle around (5)} In the transmission mode, the light 50a incident on the liquid crystal display device from the backlight 5 is transmitted through the light transmission region 6a and transmitted through the dye layer 11 of the color filter 10 to be colored. Further, the light 50 b incident on the liquid crystal display device from the backlight 5 in the transmission mode is shielded by the transflective layer 6.

Therefore, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the transmission mode becomes the colored light 50a transmitted once through the dye layer 11 of the color filter 10.

In such a liquid crystal display device, since the dye layer non-formation regions 11D, 11E, and 11F are present in a part of the region that overlaps the light reflection region 6b in a plane, the light obtained in the reflection mode is The light is a combination of the uncolored light 30b that has passed through the non-layered regions 11D, 11E, and 11F and the colored light 30a that has passed through the dye layer 11. On the other hand, the light obtained in the transmission mode is only the colored light 50a transmitted through the dye layer 11.

This makes it possible to reduce the difference in color density between light obtained by transmitting the color filter 10 twice in the reflection mode and light obtained by transmitting the color filter 10 once in the transmission mode. .

As a result, similarly, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device capable of performing bright and highly visible display in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode.
Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 15, the dye layer 11 includes a red layer 11R, a green layer 11G, and a blue layer 11B, and the area of each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, 11B is equal to the red layer 11R, The color characteristics of the color filter 10 are adjusted by changing the area of each of the dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B, so that the color reproducibility is further improved. And a liquid crystal display device having more excellent display quality can be realized.

Further, in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 15, a transparent film 12 for flattening a step between the regions where the respective dye layers 11R, 11G and 11B are provided and the non-dye layer regions 11D, 11E and 11F is provided. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the adverse effect caused by the step between the regions where the respective dye layers 11R, 11G, and 11B are provided and the non-dye layer-formed regions 11D, 11E, and 11F from occurring. Reliability can be improved.

The transflective layer made of a thin metal film has light absorption in addition to light reflection and transmission, whereas the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. Since the light-transmitting region 6a is formed by being opened like a window, the light-transmitting region 6a has no light absorption and the reflectance and the transmittance can be increased.

<F: Fifth Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display>
In the fifth embodiment, the overall configuration of the liquid crystal display device is the same as that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal display device of the fifth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display device of the fourth embodiment only in the shape of the transflective layer and the color filter. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer, the color filter, and the transparent electrode of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal display device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 17A illustrates the relationship between the transflective layer and the color filter. FIG. 17B is a plan view for explaining the overlap, and FIG. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ shown in FIG.
Note that, in FIG. 17, the same components as those of the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The semi-transmissive reflection layer 61 is provided to extend in a stripe shape in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface so as to be orthogonal to the transparent electrode 7 provided on the upper substrate 3, similarly to the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2. And are formed at the same pitch as the transparent electrodes 8 provided on the lower substrate 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 17B, the width of the pattern of the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 is formed larger than the width of the pattern of the metal film forming the transflective layer 61. As a result, a band-shaped area where the metal film constituting the semi-transmissive reflection layer 61 and the transparent electrode 8 do not overlap in a plane is defined as a light transmission area 61a, and the entire area where the metal film is provided is a light reflection area. 61b.

On the other hand, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the color filter 101 is provided corresponding to each pixel constituting the display area, and the red layer 111R and the green layer are orthogonal to the transparent electrode 7 provided on the upper substrate 3. The layer 111G and the blue layer 111B extend in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and have a dye layer 111 that is repeatedly arranged in the order of a red layer 111R, a green layer 111G, and a blue layer 111B.

As shown in FIG. 17, each of the dye layers 111R, 111G, and 111B has an entire region that overlaps the light transmission region 61a of the semi-transmissive reflection layer 61 in a plane and each of the dye layers 111R, 111G, and 111B has an opening in a stripe shape. Thus, the light-reflecting region 61b of the semi-transmissive reflective layer 61 is provided in a region excluding a part of the region that overlaps in a plane.

Accordingly, the color filter 101 is a part of the dye layer forming region where the dye layers 111R, 111G, and 111B are provided, and a part of the region that overlaps the light reflection region 61b in a planar manner. Dye layer non-forming regions 111D, 111E, and 111F, which are regions in which 111G and 111B are not provided, are present.
Further, in this liquid crystal display device, as in the fourth embodiment, the area of the dye forming region, that is, the area of each of the dye layers 111R, 111G, and 111B is determined in the order of the red layer 111R, the blue layer 111B, and the green layer 111G. It is provided to be small.

In such a liquid crystal display device, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the dye layer non-formation regions 111D, 111E, and 111F are formed in a part of the region that overlaps the light reflection region 61b of the transflective layer 61 in a plane. Therefore, part of the external light incident on the liquid crystal display device in the reflection mode is transmitted through the non-dye layer forming regions 111D, 111E, and 111F, and is transmitted twice through the color filter 101 in the reflection mode. Is light obtained by combining uncolored light passing through the non-dye layer forming regions 111D, 111E, and 111F and colored light passing through the dye layer 111. On the other hand, all the light incident from the backlight 5 and transmitted through the light transmitting region 61a in the transmission mode is transmitted through the dye layer 111, and the light obtained by transmitting once through the color filter 101 in the transmission mode is , All become colored light. Thus, it is possible to reduce the difference in color density between the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter once in the transmission mode.

As a result, similarly in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development and high visibility display.
Moreover, also in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the dye layer 111 is composed of the red layer 111R, the green layer 111G, and the blue layer 111B, and the area of each of the dye layers 111R, 111G, 111B is equal to the red layer 111R, the blue layer 111B. The layer 111B and the green layer 111G are provided so as to become smaller in this order, and the color characteristics of the color filter 101 are adjusted by changing the area of each of the dye layers 111R, 111G, and 111B, so that the color reproducibility is further improved. Thus, a liquid crystal display device having higher display quality can be realized.

In such a liquid crystal display device, the transflective layer 61 has a pattern width of the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 larger than a pattern width of the metal film forming the transflective layer 61. Since the band-shaped light transmitting region 61a and the light reflecting region 61b are formed by making the side larger, the opening of the opening is smaller than that of the semi-transmissive reflecting layer having the window-shaped opening. Since there is no variation in the length direction, it is stable in manufacturing.

<G: Sixth Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display>
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, showing an example of a passive matrix type transflective color liquid crystal display device in which a color filter is provided on the inner surface side of the upper substrate. FIG. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer and the color filter in the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 18. FIG. 19A illustrates an overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter. 19B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB ′ shown in FIG. 19A.
Note that, in FIGS. 18 and 19, the same components as those of the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

The liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 18 has a schematic configuration including a liquid crystal panel 100 and a backlight (illumination device) 5 provided on the rear surface side (outer surface side of the lower substrate 2) of the liquid crystal panel 100. I have.

{Circle around (4)} Similarly to the fourth embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 100 is roughly configured such that the liquid crystal layer 4 is sandwiched in a space sandwiched between the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 which are arranged to face each other.

On the inner surface side of the lower substrate 2, a transflective layer 6 and an insulating film 23 are laminated in this order, and on the upper side of the insulating film 23, a striped transparent electrode 8 made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO (here, A common electrode extends in the horizontal direction in the drawing, and an alignment film 9 is provided above the transparent electrode 8 so as to cover the transparent electrode 8.

{Circle around (4)} Similarly to the fourth embodiment, a quarter-wave plate 18, a lower polarizer 14, and a reflective polarizer 19 are provided on the outer surface side of the lower substrate 2.

On the other hand, a color filter 20 is laminated on the inner surface side of the upper substrate 3, and a light-shielding film 42 made of a black resin material or the like is provided between the respective dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B constituting the color filter 20. . Further, a transparent flattening film 22 for flattening the unevenness formed by the color filter 20 is laminated below the color filter 20. Further, a stripe-shaped transparent electrode 7 (here, a segment electrode) made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is provided below the flattening film 22 in a direction perpendicular to the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 (in the drawing). An alignment film 15 is provided below the transparent electrode 7 so as to cover the transparent electrode 7.

Further, on the outer surface side of the upper substrate 3, similarly to the fourth embodiment, a forward scattering plate 16, a phase difference plate 17, and an upper polarizing plate 13 are provided in this order laminated on the upper substrate 3. ing.

{Circle around (4)} On the lower surface side of the backlight 5 (the side opposite to the liquid crystal panel 1), a reflection plate 51 is provided as in the fourth embodiment.

Next, a description will be given of a planar overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. The liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 18 differs from the liquid crystal display device of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 15 in the position where the color filters are arranged. The overlapping is the same as in the fourth embodiment.

The transflective layer 6 is similar to that of the fourth embodiment, and is formed by opening a metal film in a window shape as shown in FIG. 19, and a light transmissive area 6a and a light reflective area 6b are formed in each pixel. I have every.

On the other hand, in the color filter 20, the red layer 21R, the green layer 21G, and the blue layer 21B extend in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface so as to be orthogonal to the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2, and the red layer 21R, the green layer 21G and a dye layer 21 repeatedly arranged in the order of the blue layer 21B.

As shown in FIG. 19, each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B has an entire area overlapping the light transmission area 6a of the semi-transmissive reflection layer 6 in a plane and each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B has an opening in a window shape. Thus, the light-reflecting region 6b of the transflective layer 6 is provided in a region excluding a part of a region that overlaps with the light-reflecting region 6b. Accordingly, the color filter 20 is a part of the dye layer forming region where the dye layer 21 is provided and the region that overlaps the light reflection region 6b in a plane, and each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B is provided. There are non-dye layer forming regions 21D, 21E, and 21F, which are regions that are not formed. Also in this liquid crystal display device, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the area of the dye forming region, that is, the area of each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B is determined in the order of the red layer 21R, the blue layer 21B, and the green layer 21G. It is provided to be small.

Also in such a liquid crystal display device, as shown in FIG. 18, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the reflection mode is the light 30a passing through each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B and the dye layer. There is light 30b transmitted through the non-formation regions 21D, 21E, 21F, only light 30a transmitted through the respective dye layers 21R, 21G, 21B is colored, and light 30b transmitted through the dye-layer non-formation regions 21D, 21E, 21F. Is not colored. Therefore, also in such a liquid crystal display device, as in the fourth embodiment, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the reflection mode combines the uncolored light 30b and the colored light 30b. Light.

On the other hand, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the transmission mode also becomes the colored light 50a transmitted once through the dye layer 21 of the color filter 20, as in the fourth embodiment.

Thus, also in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the light obtained by transmitting the color filter 20 twice in the reflection mode and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter 20 once in the transmission mode are also used. The difference in shades of color can be reduced.

As a result, similarly in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development and high visibility display.
Further, also in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 19, the dye layer 21 is composed of a red layer 21R, a green layer 21G, and a blue layer 21B, and the area of each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, 21B is equal to the red layer 21R, The color characteristics of the color filter 20 are provided so as to be smaller in the order of the blue layer 21B and the green layer 21G, and the color characteristics are further improved by changing the area of each of the dye layers 21R, 21G, and 21B. And a liquid crystal display device having more excellent display quality can be realized.

<H: Seventh Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display>
FIG. 20 is a view showing another example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and shows an example of a passive matrix type transflective color liquid crystal display device in which a transparent electrode is directly provided on a transflective layer. FIG. FIG. 21 is a diagram showing only the transflective layer, the color filter, and the transparent electrode of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 20, and FIG. 21 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD ′ shown in FIG. 21 (A).
20 and 21, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the fourth embodiment, and the detailed description will be omitted.

The liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 20 has a schematic configuration including a liquid crystal panel 200 and a backlight (illumination device) 5 disposed on the rear surface side (outer surface side of the lower substrate 2) of the liquid crystal panel 200. I have.

{Circle around (4)} Similarly to the fourth embodiment, the liquid crystal panel 200 is schematically configured such that the liquid crystal layer 4 is sandwiched in a space sandwiched between the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 which are arranged to face each other.

On the inner surface side of the lower substrate 2, a semi-transmissive reflective layer 62 made of a metal film having a high reflectivity such as aluminum and a transparent conductive film made of ITO or the like, and a stripe shape provided directly on the semi-transmissive reflective layer 62. A transparent electrode 8 (here, a segment electrode) extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper, and an alignment film 9 is provided above the transparent electrode 8 so as to cover the transparent electrode 8.

{Circle around (4)} Similarly to the fourth embodiment, a quarter-wave plate 18, a lower polarizer 14, and a reflective polarizer 19 are provided on the outer surface side of the lower substrate 2.

On the other hand, a color filter 104 is laminated on the inner surface side of the upper substrate 3, and a light-shielding film 43 is provided between the respective dye layers 114R, 114G, and 114B constituting the color filter 104. Further, a transparent flattening film 32 for flattening the unevenness formed by the color filter 104 is laminated below the color filter 104. Furthermore, a stripe-shaped transparent electrode 7 (here, a common electrode) made of a transparent conductive film such as ITO is provided below the flattening film 32 in a direction perpendicular to the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 (shown in the figure). An alignment film 15 is provided below the transparent electrode 7 so as to cover the transparent electrode 7.

Further, on the outer surface side of the upper substrate 3, similarly to the fourth embodiment, a forward scattering plate 16, a phase difference plate 17, and an upper polarizing plate 13 are provided in this order laminated on the upper substrate 3. ing.

{Circle around (4)} On the lower surface side of the backlight 5 (the side opposite to the liquid crystal panel 1), a reflection plate 51 is provided as in the fourth embodiment.

Next, planar overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter in the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 20 will be described.

The transflective layer 62 is formed at the same pitch as the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 as in the fifth embodiment, and the transflective layer 62 is formed as shown in FIG. Since the width of the pattern of the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 is formed larger than the width of the pattern of the metal film constituting the metal film, the transparent electrode 8 and the metal film constituting the transflective layer 62 are formed. A band-like region where the two do not overlap in a plane is a light transmission region 62a, and the entire region where the metal film is provided is a light reflection region 62b. On the other hand, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the color filter 104 is provided corresponding to each pixel forming the display area, and the red layer 114R and the green layer 114 are orthogonal to the transparent electrode 7 provided on the upper substrate 3. The layer 114G and the blue layer 114B extend in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and have a dye layer 114 that is repeatedly arranged in the order of a red layer 114R, a green layer 114G, and a blue layer 114B.

As shown in FIG. 21, the green layer 114 </ b> G has an entire region that overlaps the light transmitting region 62 a of the semi-transmissive reflective layer 62 in a plane, and the green layer 114 </ b> G has a stripe-shaped opening to form the semi-transmissive reflective layer 62. The light-reflecting region 62b is provided in a region excluding a part of the region that overlaps in a plane. Accordingly, the color filter 104 is provided with the green layer 114G, which is a part of the dye layer forming region where the dye layers 114R, 114G, and 114B are provided, and a part of the region that overlaps the light reflection region 62b in a plane. There is a dye layer non-forming region 114E which is a region that is not formed. Further, in this liquid crystal display device, the area of the dye forming region, that is, the area of each of the dye layers 114R, 114G, and 114B is provided so that the green layer 114G is smaller than the red layer 114R and the blue layer 114B. I have.

In such a liquid crystal display device as well, as shown in FIG. 20, light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the reflection mode is the light 30a passing through each of the dye layers 114R, 114G, and 114B and the dye layer. There is light 30b that passes through the non-formation region 114E, and only the light 30a that has passed through each of the dye layers 114R, 114G, and 114B is colored, and the light 30b that has passed through the non-formation region 114E is not colored. Therefore, also in such a liquid crystal display device, as in the fourth embodiment, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the reflection mode combines the uncolored light 30b and the colored light 30b. Light.

On the other hand, the light emitted from the upper substrate 3 side to the outside in the transmission mode also becomes the colored light 50a transmitted once through the dye layer 114 of the color filter 104, as in the fourth embodiment.

Thus, also in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the light obtained by transmitting the color filter 104 twice in the reflection mode and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter 104 once in the transmission mode are also used. The difference in shades of color can be reduced.

As a result, similarly in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development and high visibility display.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, the dye layer 114 includes a red layer 114R, a green layer 114G, and a blue layer 114B, and the area of each of the dye layers 114R, 114G, and 114B is equal to the red layer 114R and the blue layer. The green layer 114G is provided to be smaller than the layer 114B, and the color characteristics of the color filter 104 are adjusted by changing the area of the green layer 114G, so that the color reproducibility can be further improved. Thus, a liquid crystal display device having better display quality can be realized.

Further, since only the green layer 114G contributing to green color development which is the most effective color has the dye layer non-forming region 114E, excellent color formation is obtained and the dye layer non-forming region 114E is obtained. , It is possible to reduce a decrease in the reflectance due to the provision of.

Furthermore, in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, since the transparent electrode 8 made of a transparent conductive film is directly provided on the transflective layer 62 made of a metal film, the resistance of the transparent electrode 8 can be reduced. Display unevenness can be reduced.

<I: Eighth Embodiment: Liquid Crystal Display>
In the eighth embodiment, since the entire configuration of the liquid crystal display device is the same as that of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 15, detailed description will be omitted.

Further, the liquid crystal display device of the eighth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment in that the area of the light transmission region in each sub-pixel is different, and in the same manner as in the above-described fourth embodiment, The layers are formed so that the areas of the dye-layer-free regions in the layers are different. Therefore, a detailed description of the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal display device of the first embodiment or the liquid crystal display device of the fourth embodiment is omitted, and the transflective characteristic part of the liquid crystal display device of the eighth embodiment is omitted. The shapes of the reflective layer and the color filter will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Note that, in the eighth embodiment, as the illumination light, illumination light whose luminance at a wavelength corresponding to green is stronger than luminance at other wavelengths and whose luminance at a wavelength corresponding to blue is weaker than luminance at other wavelengths is used. An example of the case will be described.

FIG. 32 is a view showing the transflective layer and the color filter in the liquid crystal display device of the eighth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 16A described in the fourth embodiment.

に お い て In FIG. 32, reference numeral 703 indicates a transflective layer. The transflective layer 703 is formed by opening a metal film in a window shape as in the fourth embodiment, and transmits light emitted from the backlight 5 and light incident from the upper substrate 3 side. Each pixel has an area 701 and a light reflection area 702 (in FIG. 32, indicated by oblique lines rising to the right) that reflects light incident from the upper substrate 3 side.

However, in the present embodiment, unlike the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 32, the transflective layer 703 has openings corresponding to each of the sub-pixels 751R, 751G, and 751B constituting one pixel 751. The area of the portion, that is, the area of the light transmitting areas 701R, 701G, 701B constituting the transflective layers 703R, 703G, 703B and the area of the light reflecting areas 702R, 702G, 702B are the illumination light emitted from the illumination device 5. Is the ratio of the area according to the spectral characteristics of.

On the other hand, similarly to the fourth embodiment, the color filters are provided corresponding to the respective pixels constituting the display area, and the red and green layers 711R and 711R are orthogonal to the transparent electrodes 7 provided on the upper substrate 3. 711G and a blue layer 711B extend, and have a dye layer 711 repeatedly arranged in the order of a red layer 711R, a green layer 711G, and a blue layer 711B.

As shown in FIG. 32, each of the dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B includes an entire region that planarly overlaps the light transmitting regions 701R, 701G, and 701B of the semi-transmissive reflective layers 703R, 703G, and 703B, and each of the dye layers 711R and 711B. By opening 711G and 711B in a window shape, they are provided in regions excluding a part of a region that overlaps with the light reflection regions 702R, 702G and 702B in a plane. Accordingly, the color filter is a part of a region where the dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B are provided and the light reflection regions 702R, 702G, and 702B in a plane and a part of each dye layer. Dye layer non-formation regions 711D, 711E, and 711F, which are regions where the layers 711R, 711G, and 711B are not provided, are present.

In the present embodiment, as for the sub-pixel 751G on which the green layer (green color filter) 711G is formed, the area of the light transmission region 701G corresponding to the sub-pixel 751G is compared with the sub-pixels 751R and 751B corresponding to the other colors. It is getting smaller. On the other hand, in the sub-pixel 751B on which the blue layer (blue color filter) 711B is formed, the area of the light transmitting region 701B corresponding to the sub-pixel 751B is larger than the sub-pixels 751R and 751G of the other colors. I have.

In this liquid crystal display device, the area of the dye forming region, that is, the area of each of the dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B is provided so as to decrease in the order of the blue layer 711B, the red layer 711R, and the green layer 711G. .

表示 In such a liquid crystal display device, the display color and brightness are adjusted by performing both the first adjustment and the second adjustment described below.

"First adjustment"
By changing the ratio between the light transmitting regions 701R, 701G, and 701B and the light reflecting regions 702R, 702G, and 702B, the brightness is adjusted so as to obtain a transmittance sufficient to obtain bright light in the transmission mode. .

Further, the sub-pixel 751G on which the green layer 711G is formed is made smaller than the other sub-pixels 751R and 751B, and the sub-pixel 751B on which the blue layer 711B is formed is compared with the other sub-pixels 751R and 751G. Thus, the ratio between the light transmitting regions 701R, 701G, 701B and the light reflecting regions 702R, 702G, 702B is changed. Thus, of the illumination light, light having a wavelength corresponding to red and blue having relatively low luminance is sufficiently transmitted through the semi-transmissive reflective layer 703, while light having a wavelength corresponding to green having relatively high luminance is transmitted. The transmission of the transflective layer 703 is restricted, and the display color is adjusted.

"Second adjustment"
By changing the ratio between the area of the dye layer forming region, which is the area of each of the dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B, and the area of the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F, only bright light can be obtained in the reflection mode. The brightness is adjusted so that the reflectance of?

In addition, the area of each of the dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B is provided so as to decrease in the order of the blue layer 711B, the red layer 711R, and the green layer 711G, and the dye layer forming region is the area of each of the dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B. Of the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F are changed. Thereby, the color characteristics of the color filter are adjusted, and the display color is adjusted.

In the first adjustment, the display color in the reflection mode is changed by changing the ratio of the light transmission regions 701R, 701G, and 701B to the light reflection regions 702R, 702G, and 702B. However, if the second adjustment is performed in consideration of the change in the display color due to the first adjustment, even if the display color in the reflection mode changes due to the first adjustment, The correction can be made in the second adjustment, and it is possible to prevent a change in the display color in the reflection mode due to the first adjustment from affecting the display color in the actual reflection mode.

In the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the first adjustment performed by changing the ratio of the light transmitting regions 701R, 701G, 701B and the light reflecting regions 702R, 702G, 702B, and the area of the dye layer forming region Since both the second adjustment performed by changing the ratio to the area of the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F are performed, light transmission is performed so that a bright display can be obtained in the transmission mode in the first adjustment. Even if the areas 701R, 701G, and 701B are enlarged to improve the transmittance and the light reflection areas 702R, 702G, and 702B are reduced, the area of the dye layer non-forming areas 711D, 711E, and 711F is reduced in the second adjustment. By doing so, it is possible to obtain a sufficient reflectance for obtaining a bright display in the reflection mode. Therefore, even if the light transmission areas 701R, 701G, and 701B are enlarged so that a bright display is obtained in the transmission mode, the inconvenience that the display in the reflection mode becomes dark does not occur.

Therefore, according to the liquid crystal display device described above, the brightness can be effectively adjusted, and a bright display can be performed in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode.

In the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, the first adjustment performed by changing the ratio between the light transmitting regions 701R, 701G, and 701B and the light reflecting regions 702R, 702G, and 702B, and the adjustment of the dye layer forming region By performing both the second adjustment performed by changing the ratio of the area and the area of the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F, the display color can be effectively adjusted, which is very excellent. Color reproducibility is obtained.

Specifically, in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the influence that the variation in the spectral characteristics of the illumination light may have on the observation light, and the luminance of the wavelength corresponding to green is higher than the luminance of other wavelengths. Even when the transmission type display is performed using illumination light in which the brightness of the wavelength corresponding to blue is weaker than the brightness of the other wavelengths, a situation in which the image viewed by the observer is colored is considered. Can be avoided. That is, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to compensate for the non-uniformity of the spectral characteristics of the illumination light and achieve good color reproducibility.

Further, the first embodiment is only the adjustment of the display color and the brightness corresponding to the first adjustment in the present embodiment, and the fourth embodiment is the display color and the brightness corresponding to the second adjustment in the embodiment. However, in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment, since both the first adjustment and the second adjustment are performed, the color reproducibility can be further improved, and A liquid crystal display device having improved display quality can be realized.

Moreover, in this liquid crystal display device, the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F are formed in a part of the semi-transmissive reflecting layers 703R, 703G, and 703B that partially overlap with the light reflecting regions 702R, 702G, and 702B. Therefore, part of the external light incident on the liquid crystal display device in the reflection mode passes through the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F, and passes through the color filter twice in the reflection mode. The light obtained as a result is light obtained by combining uncolored light passing through the non-dye layer forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F and colored light passing through the dye layer 711. On the other hand, all the light incident from the backlight 5 and transmitted through the light transmitting regions 701R, 701G, and 701B in the transmission mode passes through the dye layer 711, and is obtained by transmitting once through the color filter in the transmission mode. The light that is emitted is all colored light. Thus, it is possible to reduce the difference in color density between the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and the light obtained by transmitting the color filter once in the transmission mode.

As a result, similarly to the fourth embodiment, similarly to the reflection mode and the transmission mode, it is possible to realize a color transflective liquid crystal display device with good color development and high visibility display. .

<J: Ninth embodiment: liquid crystal display device>
In the ninth embodiment, the overall configuration of the liquid crystal display device is the same as that of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG.

In the liquid crystal display device according to the ninth embodiment, similarly to the above-described eighth embodiment, the area of the light transmission region in each sub-pixel is different, and the area of the non-dye layer forming region in each dye layer is different. The liquid crystal display device according to the ninth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display device according to the eighth embodiment only in the shape of the transflective layer and the color filter. For this reason, the transflective layer and the color filter will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating the transflective layer and the color filter in the liquid crystal display device according to the ninth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 17A described in the fifth embodiment.

In FIG. 33, reference numeral 803 denotes a transflective layer. As in the fifth embodiment, the transflective layer 803 is provided so as to extend in a stripe shape in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface so as to be orthogonal to the transparent electrode 7 provided on the upper substrate 3 and provided on the lower substrate 2. It is formed at the same pitch as that of the transparent electrode 8. Then, as shown in FIG. 33, the width of the pattern of the transparent electrode 8 provided on the lower substrate 2 is formed larger than the width of the pattern of the metal film constituting the transflective layer 803. A strip-shaped area where the metal film forming the transflective layer 803 and the transparent electrode 8 do not overlap in a plane is a light transmission area 801, and the entire area where the metal film is provided is a light reflection area 802 (see FIG. 33, it is indicated by oblique lines rising to the right.

However, in the present embodiment, unlike the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 33, the transflective layer 803 has a region along the edge of the sub-pixels 851R, 851G, and 851B constituting one pixel 851. That is, the areas of the light transmitting regions 801R, 801G, and 801B that constitute the transflective layers 803R, 803G, and 803B and the areas of the light reflecting regions 802R, 802G, and 802B are determined by the spectral characteristics of the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 5. The ratio of the area according to.

On the other hand, similar to the fifth embodiment, the color filters are provided corresponding to the respective pixels constituting the display area, and the red and green layers 811R and 811R are orthogonal to the transparent electrodes 7 provided on the upper substrate 3. 811G and a blue layer 811B extend, and include a dye layer 811 that is repeatedly arranged in the order of a red layer 811R, a green layer 811G, and a blue layer 811B.

As shown in FIG. 33, each of the dye layers 811R, 811G, and 811B includes an entire region that planarly overlaps the light transmitting regions 801R, 801G, and 801B of the transflective layers 803R, 803G, and 803B, and each of the dye layers 111R and By opening the strips 111G and 111B in a stripe shape, they are provided in areas other than a part of the area that overlaps with the light reflection areas 802R, 802G, and 802B of the transflective layers 803R, 803G, and 803B.

As a result, the color filter is a part of the dye layer forming area where the dye layers 811R, 811G, 811B are provided, and a part of the area that overlaps the light reflection areas 802R, 802G, 802B in a plane, and There are dye layer non-formation regions 811D, 811E, 811F, which are regions where the layers 811R, 811G, 811B are not provided.

Also, in the present embodiment, as in the eighth embodiment, for the sub-pixel 851G on which the green layer (green color filter) 811G is formed, the area of the corresponding light transmission region 801G corresponds to another color. Sub-pixels 851R and 851B. On the other hand, in the sub-pixel 851B on which the blue layer (blue color filter) 811B is formed, the area of the light transmission region 801B corresponding to the sub-pixel 851B is larger than the sub-pixels 851R and 851G of the other colors. I have.

Also in this liquid crystal display device, similarly to the eighth embodiment, the area of the dye forming region, that is, the area of each of the dye layers 811R, 811G, and 811B is in the order of the blue layer 811B, the red layer 811R, and the green layer 811G. It is provided to be small.

In such a liquid crystal display device as well, the display color and brightness are adjusted by changing the ratio between the light transmitting regions 801R, 801G, and 801B and the light reflecting regions 802R, 802G, and 802B, and the area of the dye layer forming region is adjusted. The display color and brightness can be adjusted by changing the ratio of the area of the non-dye layer forming regions 811D, 811E, and 811F. Therefore, the display color and brightness can be effectively adjusted.

Therefore, according to the above-described liquid crystal display device, as in the eighth embodiment, bright display can be performed in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode, and extremely excellent color reproducibility can be obtained.

Further, also in this liquid crystal display device, since the dye layer non-formation regions 811D, 811E, and 811F are formed, the light obtained by transmitting the color filter twice in the reflection mode and the color filter in the transmission mode are reduced by one. Color transflective liquid crystal that can reduce the difference in shade of color from the light obtained by multiple transmissions, and has good color development and high visibility display in both reflection mode and transmission mode. A display device can be realized.

Note that the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is not limited to the examples shown in the above-described embodiments.For example, the transflective layer is made of aluminum, and the dye layer includes a blue layer and a red layer. Alternatively, the area of the dye layer forming region may be provided such that the blue layer is smaller than the red dye layer.

In such a liquid crystal display device, the area of the dye layer forming region is provided such that the blue layer is smaller than the red dye layer, so that the transflective layer is made of aluminum, Even if the light reflected by the transflective layer is colored blue, it can be corrected by transmitting the color filter twice.
Therefore, a liquid crystal display device having excellent color reproducibility and high display quality can be realized.

Further, the transflective layer is made of silver, the dye layer includes a red layer and a blue layer, the area of the dye layer forming region, the red layer is smaller than the blue dye layer. It may be provided.

In such a liquid crystal display device, since the area of the dye layer forming region is provided such that the red layer is smaller than the blue dye layer, the transflective layer is made of silver, Even if the light reflected by the transflective layer is colored yellow, it can be corrected by transmitting twice through the color filter. Therefore, a liquid crystal display device having excellent color reproducibility and high display quality can be realized.

In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, the flattening film may be formed so as to cover the color filter as in the example shown in the above-described embodiment, but the flattened film formed by the color filter may be flattened. For example, it may be formed only in the non-colorant layer forming region of the color filter. In the case where the flattening film is formed only in the color filter layer non-formation region of the color filter, when the overcoat layer is provided on the flattening film, compared with the case where the overcoat layer is provided without forming the flattening film. Thus, the thickness of the overcoat layer can be reduced. Further, for example, an overcoat layer may be formed without forming a flattening film, and the unevenness formed by the color filter may be flattened by the overcoat layer, and the overcoat layer may also serve as a flattening film. .

Further, as in the example shown in the above-described embodiment, by forming a flattening film, the flattening film may be buried in the region where the dye layer is not formed, and may be flattened. May be formed to fill the non-dye layer forming region, and then a flattening film may be formed on the transparent layer and the dye layer forming region to be flattened.

{Circle over (1)} The transflective layer refers to a layer having a transmissive portion and a reflecting function, and need not be a simple reflective layer. That is, a reflective polarizer having a polarizing function may be used. Examples of the reflective polarizer include a circular polarizer made of cholesteric liquid crystal, a beam splitter linear polarizer using a Brewster angle, and a wire grid linear polarizer having a plurality of slits of about 60 nm formed in a reflective layer.

Further, as a mode of the liquid crystal display device to which the present invention can be applied, a passive matrix type liquid crystal display device as in the example shown in the above-described embodiment can be cited, but the present invention also includes a thin film diode (Thin @ Film). The present invention can also be applied to an active matrix type liquid crystal display device using a switching element such as a diode (TFD) or a thin film transistor (Thin Film Transistor, TFT).

(Electronics)
Next, an example of an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal display device of the above embodiment will be described.
First, an example in which the above-described liquid crystal display device is applied to a display unit of a mobile phone will be described. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the mobile phone. As shown in the figure, the mobile phone 1032 has a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention (only the first substrate 3 is shown in FIG. 22) together with a plurality of operation buttons 1321, an earpiece 1322 and a mouthpiece 1323. ) Is provided.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing an example of a wristwatch-type electronic device.

In FIG. 23, reference numeral 1100 denotes a watch main body, and reference numeral 1101 denotes a liquid crystal display unit using the above-described liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an example of a portable information processing device such as a word processor or a mobile personal computer (personal computer).

In FIG. 24, reference numeral 1200 denotes an information processing device, reference numeral 1202 denotes an input unit such as a keyboard, reference numeral 1204 denotes an information processing device main body, and reference numeral 1206 denotes a liquid crystal display unit using the above liquid crystal display device.

As the electronic devices, in addition to the mobile phone shown in FIG. 22, the wristwatch-type electronic device shown in FIG. 23, and the personal computer shown in FIG. 24, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type, and a monitor direct-view type are used. Examples include a video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic organizer, a calculator, a word processor, a workstation, a videophone, a POS terminal, and a device equipped with a touch panel.

As described above, according to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is possible to realize high color reproducibility by compensating for non-uniformity of spectral characteristics in illumination light from the illumination device, and to achieve transmission mode even in the reflection mode. Similarly, an electronic device including a liquid crystal display device having good color development and excellent visibility can sometimes be obtained, which is particularly suitable for an electronic device that requires high-quality display.

Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention will be clarified by showing examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples. Further, the reflection films of Test Examples 1 to 4 are silver alloys and are colored yellow.

"Test Example 1"
The liquid crystal display device according to the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 is manufactured, the area ratio between the light transmitting region and the light reflecting region is set to 17:19, and the region is not provided with each of the dye layers 111R, 111G, and 111B. The ratio of the areas of the non-dye layer forming regions 111D, 111E, and 111F was set to red layer 111D: green layer 111E: blue layer 111F = 4: 14: 6.

"Test Example 2"
As shown in FIG. 25, the area ratio between the light transmitting region and the light reflecting region is set to 17:19, and the dye layer non-forming region 112D which is a region where the dye layers 112R, 112G, and 112B in the color filter 102 are not provided. , 112E, and 112F in the same manner as the liquid crystal display device of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 except that the ratio of the areas of the red layer 112D: the green layer 112E: the blue layer 112F = 1: 1: 1. Thus, a liquid crystal display device was manufactured.

"Test Example 3"
As shown in FIG. 26, the area ratio between the light transmitting region and the light reflecting region is set to 11:25, and further, each of the dye layers 113R, 113G, and 113B of the color filter 103 has no dye layer non-formation region. The liquid crystal display device is the same as the liquid crystal display device of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 except that the color characteristics of the color filters are optimized (color purity is reduced) with emphasis on display in the reflection mode. Was prepared.
In Test Examples 1 to 3, Test Example 1 is an example of the present invention, and Test Examples 2 and 3 are comparative examples.

With respect to the liquid crystal display devices of Test Examples 1 to 3 thus manufactured, light obtained in the reflection mode and light obtained in the transmission mode were measured.
The results are shown in Table 1 and FIGS.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, and FIG. 27A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode. (B) is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the transmission mode. FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 2, and FIG. 28A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode. FIG. 28B is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the transmission mode. FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 3, and FIG. 29A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode. FIG. 29B is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the transmission mode.

Here, the “color gamut area” refers to the area of a triangle formed by connecting three points of x, y coordinates of each display color of red, green, and blue on the CIE chromaticity diagram.

液晶 In the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 3 as a comparative example, as shown in Table 1, FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, both the light obtained in the reflection mode and the light obtained in the transmission mode have a narrow color gamut area.

Further, as shown in Table 1, FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 2, which is a comparative example, also showed that the light obtained in the reflection mode was also different in the transmission mode as compared with the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 3. The resulting light also has a wide color gamut area. Moreover, it has a sufficient white display reflectance. However, in the light obtained in the reflection mode, the red display is purple.

On the other hand, the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, which is an example of the present invention, is obtained in the reflection mode as compared with the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 3, as shown in Table 1, FIG. 27 and FIG. Both the light and the light obtained in the transmission mode have a wide color gamut area and a sufficient white display reflectance.

Furthermore, the color gamut area of light obtained in the reflection mode is wider than that of the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 2. Moreover, as in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 2, the light obtained in the reflection mode has higher color purity in red display and blue display.
Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, which is an example of the present invention, the difference in color shading between light obtained in the reflection mode and light obtained in the transmission mode is small, color reproducibility is excellent, and sufficient whiteness is obtained. It was confirmed that it had a display reflectance.

Thus, in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, which is an example of the present invention, compared with the liquid crystal display devices of Test Example 2 and Test Example 3, which are comparative examples, color development is performed in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode. It became clear that a display with high visibility was possible.

"Test Example 4"
The liquid crystal display device according to the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 is manufactured, the area ratio between the light transmission region and the light reflection region is set to 17:19, and the region where the green layer 114G is provided and the green layer 114G are further formed. The ratio of the area of the dye layer non-forming region 111E, which is a region where is not provided, is 7: 1, and a color filter having the spectral characteristics shown in FIG. 31 is used as the color filter. That is, with respect to the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, the color purity of the green and red color filters was increased, and instead, the color purity of the blue color filter was lowered to increase the transmittance.
Note that Test Example 4 described above is an example of the present invention.

With respect to the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 4 thus manufactured, light obtained in the reflection mode and light obtained in the transmission mode were measured in the same manner as in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1 described above.
The results are shown in Table 2 and FIG.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 4, and FIG. 30A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode, and FIG. (B) is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the transmission mode.

As shown in Table 2 and FIG. 30, in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 4, although the white display reflectance and transmittance did not change much as compared with the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, the color purity of green was low. In addition, both the light obtained in the reflection mode and the light obtained in the transmission mode have significantly improved color gamut areas.

Thus, by providing the dye layer non-forming region 114E only in the green layer 114G contributing to green coloring which is the color most effective for visibility, excellent color formation is obtained, and the dye layer non-forming region 114E is formed. The reduction in the reflectance of white display due to the provision can be reduced.

In addition, by increasing the transmittance by lowering the color purity of the blue color filter and by providing the non-dye layer forming region 114E only in the green layer 14G, the yellow color due to the silver reflection layer in the reflection mode is obtained. Was also improved.

"Test Example 5 to Test Example 8"
A liquid crystal display device was manufactured by setting the light transmitting region, the dye layer forming region, which is the area of each dye layer, and the dye layer non-forming region to the areas shown in Table 3.
Note that, of Test Examples 5 to 8, Test Examples 5 to 7 are examples of the present invention, and Test Example 8 is a conventional example.

FIG. 33 illustrates an example of dimensions of each part when the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 7 is manufactured. The unit of the dimension of each part shown in FIG. 33 is μm, the sub-pixel pitch is 237 × 79 (μm), and the sub-pixel area is 14784 μm ² .

With respect to the liquid crystal display devices of Test Examples 5 to 8 thus manufactured, the x and y coordinates, reflectance, and transmittance of white display on the CIE chromaticity diagram in the reflection mode and the transmission mode were measured, respectively. .
Table 3 shows the results.

The liquid crystal display device of Test Example 8 has green color, as can be seen from the white display in the reflection mode and the white display in the transmission mode. Further, it can be seen that the reflectance is low and the display in the reflection mode is dark.
On the other hand, in Test Example 5, while maintaining the transmittance in Test Example 8, the width of the pattern of the metal film forming the transflective layer was adjusted to reduce the area of the green light transmission region, The areas of the light transmission region and the blue light transmission region were increased, and a green dye layer non-formation region was provided.
As a result, as shown in Table 3, in Test Example 5, as compared with Test Example 8, the reflectivity was improved, the green color of white display was improved in the reflection mode and the transmission mode, and the CIE chromaticity diagram showed , Approaches the ideal white display color coordinates (x = 0.310, y = 0.316).

In Test Example 6, while maintaining the transmittance in Test Example 8 and the area of the light transmitting region in Test Example 5, the green dye layer non-formation region was enlarged, and the red dye layer non-formation region was increased. Was provided.
As a result, as shown in Table 3, in Test Example 6, as compared with Test Example 5, the reflectivity was further improved, the white color in white in the reflection mode was further improved, and the image was more ideal. It approaches the color coordinates of white display.

In Test Example 7, while maintaining the transmittance in Test Example 8 and the area of the green light transmission region in Test Examples 5 and 6, the area of the red light transmission region was reduced and the blue light transmission region was reduced. The area of the transmissive region was increased, the green dye layer non-formation region was enlarged, the red dye layer non-formation region was increased, and a blue dye layer non-formation region was also provided.
As a result, as shown in Table 3, in Test Example 7, although the white display in the transmission mode was not much different from that in Test Example 6, the reflectance was further improved, and the white display in the transmission mode was further improved. The display approaches the ideal white display color coordinates.

According to Test Examples 5 to 8, by increasing the area of the dye layer non-formation area while securing the transmittance for obtaining a bright display in the transmission mode, sufficient reflection for obtaining a bright display in the reflection mode is obtained. It was confirmed that a liquid crystal display device capable of achieving a high display ratio and capable of providing a bright display in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode was obtained.
Further, by adjusting the area of the light transmitting region and the area of the non-dye layer forming region (dye layer forming region), a liquid crystal display device capable of displaying with excellent color reproducibility both in the reflection mode and in the transmission mode. Was obtained.

"Test Example 9"
The light-transmitting regions 701R, 701G, and 701B, the dye-layer-forming regions, which are the areas of the respective dye layers 711R, 711G, and 711B, and the non-dye-layer-forming regions 711D, 711E, and 711F, according to Example 7 shown in Table 3. With the same area, the liquid crystal display device of the eighth embodiment shown in FIG. 32 was manufactured.
Test Example 9 is an example of the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates an example of the dimensions of each part when manufacturing a liquid crystal display of the eighth embodiment having the same area as that of the liquid crystal display of Test Example 7. The unit of the dimension of each part shown in FIG. 32 is μm, the sub-pixel pitch was 237 × 79 (μm), and the sub-pixel area was 14784 μm ² .

With respect to the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 9 thus manufactured, the reflectance, the white display in the reflection mode, the transmittance, and the white display in the transmission mode were measured.
As a result, a result equivalent to that of Example 7 shown in Table 3 was obtained.

As shown in Table 3, in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 9, compared to Test Example 8, the reflectance was improved, and the white display in the reflection mode and the transmission mode was improved in green color, and became closer to white. Was.

Therefore, in the liquid crystal display device according to the eighth embodiment, as in the liquid crystal display device according to the ninth embodiment, a liquid crystal display device capable of performing display with excellent color reproducibility in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode can be obtained. The area of the light transmitting region and the area of the dye layer non-forming region (dye layer forming region) are adjusted for each color regardless of the shape of the light transmitting region and the dye layer non-forming region (dye layer forming region). As a result, it has been clarified that a liquid crystal display device capable of performing display with excellent color reproducibility in both the reflection mode and the transmission mode can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a graph showing spectral characteristics of illumination light emitted from a lighting device to a liquid crystal display panel in the liquid crystal display device. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a transparent electrode on a first substrate and each element formed on a second substrate in the liquid crystal display device. 4 is a graph showing transmittance characteristics of color filters corresponding to each color in the same liquid crystal display device. 4 is a graph showing spectral characteristics of light transmitted through a liquid crystal display panel and emitted to an observation side in the same liquid crystal display device. 9 is a graph showing spectral characteristics of light transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel and emitted to the observation side when all openings in the reflection layer have the same area. It is a sectional view illustrating the composition of the liquid crystal display concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of a liquid crystal display panel in the same liquid crystal display device. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a pixel electrode on a first substrate and each element formed on a second substrate in the liquid crystal display device. It is a sectional view illustrating the composition of the liquid crystal display concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a graph showing transmittance characteristics of color filters corresponding to each color in the same liquid crystal display device. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a sub-pixel and a reflective layer in the same liquid crystal display device. FIG. 3 is a CIE chromaticity diagram showing color coordinates of display colors by the liquid crystal display device. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a positional relationship between a transparent electrode on a first substrate and each element formed on a second substrate in a liquid crystal display device according to a modification of the present invention. It is a figure showing an example of a liquid crystal display of the present invention, and is a partial sectional view showing an example of a transflective color liquid crystal display of a passive matrix type in which a color filter is provided on the inner surface side of a lower substrate. . FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating only a transflective layer, a color filter, and a light-shielding film in the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 15. FIG. FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ shown in FIG. FIG. 17A is a diagram illustrating only a transflective layer, a color filter, and a transparent electrode on a lower substrate in the liquid crystal display device according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 17A illustrates an overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter. 17B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ shown in FIG. 17A. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a passive matrix type transflective color liquid crystal display device in which a color filter is provided on the inner surface side of an upper substrate. It is. FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer and the color filter in the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 18, and FIG. 19A is a plan view illustrating an overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter. FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and is a partial cross-section illustrating an example of a passive matrix type transflective color liquid crystal display device in which a transparent electrode is directly provided on a transflective layer. FIG. FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer, the color filter, and the transparent electrode of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal display device illustrated in FIG. 20. FIG. 21A illustrates an overlap between the transflective layer and the color filter. FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD ′ shown in FIG. 21A. It is the perspective view which showed an example of the mobile telephone. It is the perspective view which showed an example of the wristwatch type electronic device. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a portable information processing device such as a word processor or a personal computer. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer, the color filter, and the transparent electrode of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 2, and the left diagram is a plan view for explaining the overlapping of the transflective layer and the color filter. The right figure is a sectional view of the same. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating only the transflective layer, the color filter, and the transparent electrode of the lower substrate in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 3, and the left diagram is a plan view for explaining the overlapping of the transflective layer and the color filter. The right figure is a sectional view of the same. FIG. 27A is a diagram showing a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 1, FIG. 27A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in a reflection mode, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in a transmission mode. FIG. 28A is a diagram showing a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 2, FIG. 28A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in a transmission mode. FIG. 29A is a diagram illustrating a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 3, in which FIG. 29A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in a transmission mode. FIG. 30A is a diagram illustrating a result of measuring light emitted from the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 4, in which FIG. 30A is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in the reflection mode, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a chromaticity diagram of light obtained in a transmission mode. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the spectral characteristics of the color filters used in the liquid crystal display device of Test Example 4, and is a graph illustrating the relationship between the transmittance of the color filters and the wavelength. It is a figure showing a transflective layer and a color filter in a liquid crystal display of an 8th embodiment. It is a figure showing a transflective layer and a color filter in a liquid crystal display of a 9th embodiment.

Explanation of reference numerals

1,100,200,500 Liquid crystal panel (liquid crystal display panel)
2 lower substrate 3 upper substrate 4 liquid crystal layer 5 backlight (lighting device)
6, 61, 62, 521, 703, 803 Semi-transmissive reflective layer (reflective layer)
6a, 61a, 62a, 701, 801 Light transmitting area 6b, 61b, 62b, 702, 802 Light reflecting area 7, 8, 511, 525 Transparent electrode 9, 15 Alignment film 10, 20, 101, 104, 522 Color filter 11 , 21, 114, 711, 811 Dye layer 11B, 21B, 111B, 114B, 711B, 811B Blue layer 11D, 11E, 11F, 21D, 21E, 21F, 111D, 111E, 111F, 114E, 711D, 711E, 711F, 811D , 811E, 811F Non-dye layer forming region 11G, 21G, 111G, 114G, 711G, 811G Green layer 11R, 21R, 111R, 114R, 711R, 811R Red layer 12, 22, 32 Flattening film 13 Upper polarizing plate 14 Lower polarization Plate 16 Forward scattering plate 17 Phase difference plate 18 1 4 wavelength plate 19 reflective polarizer 23 insulating film 41, 42, 43 light shielding film 51 reflecting plate 503 sealing member 521a opening 551,751R, 751G, 751B, 851R, 851G, 851B subpixel 615 pixels (dots) 621 LED
622 Light guide plate

Claims (19)

A liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal sandwiched between a pair of substrates opposed to each other and having a plurality of sub-pixels each corresponding to a different color; and an opposite side of the liquid crystal display panel from an observation side. And a lighting device for irradiating the liquid crystal display panel with illumination light.
A transflective layer provided on the opposite side of the liquid crystal from the observation side and having a translucent portion for transmitting the illumination light, wherein the translucent layer is formed in at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels; A translucent layer in which the translucent portion is formed such that the area of the light transmissive region corresponding to the light portion and the area of the light transmissive region corresponding to the translucent portion in the other sub-pixels are different;
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a color filter provided corresponding to each of the sub-pixels and transmitting light having a wavelength corresponding to the color of the sub-pixel. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is an area corresponding to a spectral characteristic of the illumination light. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is an area corresponding to the luminance of the illumination light at a wavelength corresponding to the color of the sub-pixel. The area of the light transmission region in the sub-pixel of the color corresponding to the high-luminance wavelength of the illumination light is larger than the area of the light transmission region in the sub-pixel of the color corresponding to the low-luminance wavelength of the illumination light. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the liquid crystal display device is small. 5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is different for each of the sub-pixels corresponding to different colors. 5. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein an area of the light transmission region in each of the sub-pixels is different depending on a position of the sub-pixel in a substrate surface of the liquid crystal display panel. 6. Liquid crystal display. 7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the translucent portion is an opening formed in the transflective layer corresponding to each of the sub-pixels. . 8. The liquid crystal display according to claim 7, wherein the openings are formed such that openings having substantially the same area are separated from each other by a number corresponding to the area of the light transmission region in the sub-pixel. apparatus. The translucent portion is formed in the transflective layer such that a region along at least one of a plurality of sides defining each sub-pixel is the light transmissive region. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1. A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing each other,
A semi-transmissive reflection layer provided on the inner surface side of the lower substrate, having a light transmission region that transmits light and a light reflection region that reflects light incident from the upper substrate side,
A color filter provided above the semi-transmissive reflective layer, in which a plurality of dye layers of different colors are arranged corresponding to each sub-pixel forming a display area,
Having a lighting device provided on the outer surface side of the lower substrate,
A transflective liquid crystal display device that performs display by switching between a transmissive mode and a reflective mode,
Each of the dye layers is formed in an entire region that planarly overlaps with the light transmitting region and in a region that planarly overlaps with the light reflective region, and the dye layer of at least one color is planar with the light reflective region. Is formed only in part of the region where
The area of the dye layer forming region in which each of the dye layers is formed is formed so that the dye layer of at least one of the plurality of dye layers of different colors and the dye layer of another color are different. A liquid crystal display device characterized by the above-mentioned. The dye layer includes a red layer, a green layer, and a blue layer,
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein an area of the dye forming region is provided so that a green layer is smaller than a red layer and a blue layer. 12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein a transparent film is provided for flattening a step between the dye layer forming region and a region where the dye layer is not provided. 13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the light transmission region is formed by opening the semi-transmissive reflection layer in a window shape. On the inner surface side of the lower substrate, a band-shaped transparent electrode is provided,
The width of the pattern of the transparent electrode is formed to be larger than the width of the pattern of the semi-transmissive reflection layer, so that the strip-shaped light transmission region is formed in the semi-transmissive reflection layer. 13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10. The transflective layer is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the dye layer includes a blue layer, and the area of the dye layer forming region is provided such that the blue layer is smaller than the red dye layer. The liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein: The transflective layer is made of silver or a silver alloy, the dye layer includes a red layer and a blue layer, and the area of the dye layer forming region is smaller in the red layer than in the blue dye layer. The liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the liquid crystal display device is provided so as to have a larger blue layer. 17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10, wherein the color characteristics of the color filter are adjusted by changing an area of the dye layer forming region. A liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between an upper substrate and a lower substrate facing each other, each including a plurality of sub-pixels corresponding to different colors, and having a pixel constituting a display area; and An illumination device is provided on the opposite side to the observation side, and irradiates the liquid crystal display panel with illumination light.
A semi-transmissive reflective layer provided on the side opposite to the observation side with respect to the liquid crystal layer,
A color filter that is provided above the semi-transmissive reflection layer, in which a plurality of dye layers of different colors are arranged corresponding to the respective sub-pixels, and that transmits light having a wavelength corresponding to the color of the sub-pixel. And
A transflective liquid crystal display device that performs display by switching between a transmissive mode and a reflective mode,
The semi-transmissive reflective layer has a light-transmitting portion that transmits the illumination light, and the semi-transmissive reflective layer has a light-transmissive region that transmits light and a light-reflective region that reflects light incident from the upper substrate side. Has,
The transmissive area of at least one sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels is different such that the area of the light transmissive area corresponding to the transmissive section in another sub-pixel is different from the area of the light transmissive area of the other sub-pixels. A light part is formed,
Each of the dye layers is formed in an entire region that planarly overlaps with the light transmitting region and in a region that planarly overlaps with the light reflective region, and the dye layer of at least one color is planar with the light reflective region. Is formed only in part of the region where
Liquid crystal characterized in that the area of the dye-layer-free area where the respective dye layers are not formed in at least one of the plurality of sub-pixels is different from the area of the dye-layer-free area in other sub-pixels. Display device. An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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