JP5563020B2 - Liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for defining a distance between a TFT substrate and a counter substrate by a column system in a liquid crystal display device.

  In a liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal is filled between a TFT substrate on which pixel electrodes and thin film transistors (TFTs) are formed and a counter substrate on which color filters are formed, and an image is formed by controlling the molecules of the liquid crystal by an electric field. To do. The distance between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate is as small as several microns. It is extremely important to appropriately set the distance between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate in order to control light transmission by the liquid crystal.

  Conventionally, the interval between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate has been performed by dispersing beads or the like. However, when the beads are dispersed, the beads are dispersed to the region where the pixel electrode is formed, and there is a problem that light is scattered in this portion and the contrast is lowered.

  On the other hand, the conventional liquid crystal filling method is to seal between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate, provide an opening in a part of the seal, and inject liquid crystal from there, and drop the required amount of liquid crystal on the TFT substrate. Thereafter, a method of sealing the counter substrate and sealing the liquid crystal has been developed. In either case, when the beads are dispersed, when the liquid crystal is dropped, the beads move, and a place with many beads and a place with few beads are generated. Further, the beads are dispersed also in the pixel region through which the light of the backlight is transmitted, and the aperture ratio is lowered, which can cause the aperture ratio to be lowered.

  In order to solve the above problems, as a method for defining the distance between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate, a method (column system) in which a column made of an organic film is formed on the counter substrate has been developed. The support column can be installed in a portion where the pixel electrode is not present, that is, a portion where the backlight or the like is not transmitted. Therefore, the luminance (aperture ratio) is not reduced. In addition, since the column is fixed to the counter substrate, the column does not move even when the liquid crystal is dropped. Therefore, the method of maintaining the interval by the support is also suitable for a method of dropping liquid crystal (liquid crystal dropping and sealing method).

  This support column is generally formed on a black matrix of a counter substrate. The support is formed of a resin such as acrylic, but conventionally, a photolithography process has been required once to form the support. In order to eliminate the photolithography process for the support, a technique for forming the support by stacking color filters is described in “Patent Document 1”.

  On the other hand, in the case where the column is formed by stacking color filters, the column height varies in the column portion unless the position of the color filter of each color is accurately aligned. In order to prevent this problem, the planar shape of each color filter used as a support column is rectangular, and the length of the support column is changed by changing the major axis of the rectangular shape of the planar shape by 90 degrees for each color filter to be stacked. A technique for maintaining a constant value is described in “Patent Document 2”.

JP-A-9-49914 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-233064

  There is an optimum value for the distance between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate depending on the driving method, the liquid crystal material, and the like, and this value varies depending on the product. When forming a spacer by stacking conventional color filters, the height of the spacer is fixed to a multiple of the thickness of the color filter, and it is difficult to set the distance between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate to an optimum value. It was.

  In the display device, a black matrix, which is a light shielding film, is formed in a frame shape on a counter substrate around a display area where an image is formed. Since the TFT substrate corresponding to the peripheral black matrix portion does not have wiring or the like in the display region, the spacer in the peripheral portion must be higher than the spacer in the display region. However, it is difficult to form spacers with different heights in the same liquid crystal display panel in the conventional spacers formed by stacking color filters.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to realize a technique capable of finely controlling the height of a spacer as required while using a color filter as a spacer.

  On the other hand, the price of the liquid crystal material in the liquid crystal display device is high, and it is necessary to reduce the amount of liquid crystal used in order to reduce the cost of the liquid crystal display device. Liquid crystals have a larger coefficient of thermal expansion than solid materials such as spacers, glass, and wiring. Since the liquid crystal display device is used even outdoors, the operating temperature range is wide. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display panel is subjected to various stresses due to thermal expansion or contraction of the liquid crystal. In order to relieve the thermal stress caused by such liquid crystal, it is better that the amount of liquid crystal is small.

  Another object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of liquid crystal in the liquid crystal display panel, thereby reducing the cost of the liquid crystal display device and alleviating the stress caused by the thermal expansion of the liquid crystal display panel. It is to improve reliability.

  The present invention is characterized in that a spacer is formed by laminating a plurality of color filters, and the height of the spacer is finely controlled by changing the areas of the plurality of color filters constituting the spacer.

  In the present invention, the first spacer and the second spacer having different heights are formed, the areas of the plurality of color filters constituting the first spacer or the second spacer are changed, or the plurality of colors A difference is provided in the height of the first spacer or the second spacer by changing the stacking order of the filters.

  Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the amount of liquid crystal used is reduced by installing a color filter between pixels that do not contribute to image formation. Specific means are as follows.

  (1) A liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal is sandwiched between a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, and the TFT substrate and the counter substrate. The first color filter is provided on the counter substrate by a first color filter. A first pixel that displays the second color, a second pixel that displays the second color using the second color filter, and a third pixel that displays the third color using the third color filter are arranged in a matrix. The counter substrate is formed with a first spacer for defining a distance from the TFT substrate and a second spacer having a height lower than that of the first spacer, and the first spacer includes a plurality of first spacers. Of the plurality of color filters, the area of the lower color filter is larger than the area of the upper color filter, and the second spacer has a plurality of color filters. Formed by lamination of the filter, the area of the lower color filter among the plurality of color filters, liquid crystal display device, characterized in that less than the area of the upper color filter.

  (2) The first spacer is formed by a three-layer color filter, and the area of the uppermost color filter is the smallest, and the second spacer is formed by a three-layer color filter, and the lowermost color filter. The liquid crystal display device according to (1), wherein the area of the liquid crystal display device is the smallest.

  (3) The second spacer is formed by three layers of color filters, the color filter of the lowermost layer has the smallest area, the area of the color filter of the uppermost layer is the largest, and the color filter of the intermediate layer The liquid crystal display device according to (1), wherein the area is larger than the area of the lowermost color filter and smaller than the area of the uppermost color filter.

  (4) The first spacer is formed between the first pixels arranged in the vertical direction, and the second spacer is formed between the second pixels arranged in the vertical direction. (1) The liquid crystal display device according to (1).

  (5) A liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, and the TFT substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the first color filter is provided on the counter substrate by a first color filter. Are arranged in the vertical direction, the second color filter is used to display the second color, and the third color filter is used to display the third color. Third pixels arranged in the vertical direction, the first color filter extends in a stripe shape in a vertical direction covering the first pixel, and the second color filter includes the second pixel. The third color filter extends in the vertical direction so as to cover the third pixel, and extends between the first pixel and the first pixel. A plurality of color filters including the first color filter are stacked. The liquid crystal display device, wherein a first spacer is formed.

  (6) A second spacer is formed between the second pixel and the second pixel by a plurality of color filters including the second color filter, and the height of the first spacer is The liquid crystal display device according to (5), which is larger than a height of the second spacer.

  (7) The first color filter extends in a horizontal direction in a stripe shape between the second pixel and the second pixel, and between the third pixel and the third pixel. (5) The liquid crystal display device according to (5).

  (8) The first spacer is formed by a three-layer color filter including the first color filter, and the second spacer is formed by a three-layer color filter including the second color filter. (7) The liquid crystal display device as described above.

  (9) The liquid crystal display device according to (8), wherein a plurality of color filters are stacked between the third pixel and the third pixel.

  (10) A liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, and the TFT substrate and the counter substrate, wherein the counter substrate has a display area for displaying an image and the display A frame-shaped light-shielding region is formed surrounding the region, and the display region of the counter substrate includes a first pixel that displays a first color by a first color filter and a second color filter. A second pixel for displaying the second color and a third pixel for displaying the third color by the third color filter are formed in a matrix, and the frame-shaped light shielding region of the counter substrate has The first color filter, the second color filter, or the third color filter is used to form a spacer that defines a distance between the counter substrate and the TFT substrate. A liquid crystal display device comprising a higher outer as the height of the light shielding region.

  (11) One of the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter constituting the spacer has a larger area toward the outer side of the light shielding region. The liquid crystal display device according to (10).

  (12) The liquid crystal according to (11), wherein the spacer is formed of a plurality of the first color filter, the second color filter, or the third color filter. Display device.

  In the present invention, since the spacer is formed by laminating a plurality of color filters, a photo process for forming the spacer is not required separately, and the area of the plurality of color filters constituting the spacer is changed. It is possible to finely control the height of the wood.

  In the present invention, when forming the first spacer and the second spacer having different heights, the areas of the plurality of color filters constituting the first spacer or the second spacer are changed, or a plurality of By changing the stacking order of the color filters, a difference is provided in the height of the first spacer or the second spacer, so that the height of the first spacer and the second spacer can be finely controlled. .

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since a color filter is provided between pixels that do not contribute to image formation, the amount of liquid crystal used can be reduced, and the material cost of the liquid crystal display device can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a main part of a counter substrate of Example 1. 3 is a plan view of a black matrix of Example 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a red color filter of Example 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blue color filter of Example 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a green color filter of Example 1. FIG. It is a top view of a liquid crystal display panel. It is a figure showing pixel arrangement in a counter substrate. It is a plane schematic diagram of the TFT substrate corresponding to FIG. It is sectional drawing of the liquid crystal display panel corresponding to the AA cross section of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main part of a counter substrate of Example 2. 6 is a plan view of a black matrix of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a red color filter of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blue color filter of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a green color filter of Example 2. FIG. It is a cross section of the peripheral part of the conventional liquid crystal display panel. 6 is a cross section of a peripheral portion of a liquid crystal display panel of Example 3. 6 is a cross section of a peripheral portion of a liquid crystal display panel of Example 4. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a first spacer portion of a liquid crystal display panel of Example 5. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a first spacer portion of a liquid crystal display panel of Example 6. FIG.

  The detailed contents of the present invention will be disclosed with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display panel used in a liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 6, a TFT substrate 100 and a counter substrate 200 are stacked. The TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are bonded by a seal portion 150 formed in the periphery, and liquid crystal is sealed inside the seal portion 150. The distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 is maintained by a spacer. In addition, although the spacer in this specification is a support | pillar formed in the opposing board | substrate, hereafter, this support | pillar is only called a spacer.

  The TFT substrate 100 is formed to be larger than the counter substrate 200, and a terminal portion 130 for supplying a video signal, power, and the like from the outside to the liquid crystal display panel is provided around the left and lower TFT substrates 100 in FIG. Is formed. A display area 210 is formed on most of the counter substrate 200. A peripheral light shielding film 220 made of a black matrix BM is formed in a frame shape around the display area 210.

  FIG. 7 is an example showing the arrangement of pixels in the display area 210 of the counter substrate 200. In FIG. 7, in the horizontal direction, red pixels RP, blue pixels BP, and green pixels GP are arranged at a constant pitch Px. The red pixel RP, the blue pixel BP, the green pixel GP, etc. are BM holes corresponding to the red pixel RP, the blue pixel BP, and the green pixel GP, but in order to avoid complicated names, the These are referred to as a pixel RP, a blue pixel BP, and a green pixel GP. In the vertical direction, pixels of the same color are arranged at a constant pitch Py. The width of each pixel is Pw, and the vertical diameter of each pixel is Ph. The horizontal pitch Px is, for example, 170.25 μm, and the vertical pitch Py is, for example, 510.75 μm. On the other hand, the pixel width Pw is 143.25 μm, and the pixel vertical diameter Ph is 410.75 μm.

  As shown in FIG. 7, since the spacer is formed on the black matrix BM between the pixels in the vertical direction, the area that can be used for forming the spacer is 100 μm in the vertical direction. The width that the spacer can be used in the lateral direction is not particularly limited. In FIG. 7, the plane of the spacer is circular. However, when it is desired to increase the area of the spacer, the planar shape of the spacer may be elliptical or rectangular. In FIG. 7, only the planar shape of the spacer is shown. Strictly speaking, the vertical cross-sectional shape of the spacer is a trapezoid, but there is no significant difference in area between the upper and lower portions of the trapezoid. The plan view of the spacer shown in FIG. 7 may be considered as the upper shape of the spacer.

  In FIG. 7, a first spacer 10 is formed between the green pixel GP and the green pixel GP, and a second spacer 20 is formed between the blue pixel BP and the blue pixel BP. No spacer is formed between them. Further, the height of the first spacer 10 is higher than that of the second spacer 20. Usually, the first spacer 10 defines the distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200. When pressure is applied to the liquid crystal display panel from the outside, the distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 between the first spacers 10 is reduced. At this time, the second spacer 20 comes into contact with the TFT substrate 100, Excessive deformation of the TFT substrate 100 or the counter substrate 200 is prevented.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a portion of the TFT substrate 100 where the spacer formed on the counter substrate 200 contacts. In FIG. 8, a scanning line 101 extends in the horizontal direction. A portion where the scanning line 101 exists corresponds to the black matrix BM extending in the horizontal direction between the pixels in the vertical direction in FIG. In FIG. 8, video signal lines 1021 extend in the vertical direction and are arranged in the horizontal direction. The portion where the video signal line 1021 is formed corresponds to the black matrix BM extending in the vertical direction between the pixels in the horizontal direction in FIG. Pixel electrodes are formed at portions separated by the scanning lines 101 and the video signal lines 1021. The arrangement positions of the pixel electrodes correspond to the red pixel RP, the blue pixel BP, the green pixel GP, etc. in FIG.

  In FIG. 8, a first TFT 110 and a second TFT 120 are formed on the scanning line 101. The TFT is formed on the scanning line 101 in order to use the scanning line 101 as a gate electrode of the TFT. The video signal line 1021 is used as a source / drain electrode of the TFT. In FIG. 8, there are two TFTs. Normally, the first TFT 110 is used, but the wiring is modified so that the second TFT 120 is used when the first TFT 110 becomes defective in the manufacturing process. Note that the second TFT 120 may not be formed. The through hole 130 formed in FIG. 8 is for connecting the pixel electrode and the TFT. In FIG. 8, it is a top view for showing the position of TFT etc., and detailed wiring etc. are abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 8, a spacer pedestal 15 is formed between the first TFT 110 and the second TFT 120 at a position corresponding to the first spacer 10 formed on the counter substrate 200. When the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are overlapped, the spacer pedestal 15 formed on the TFT substrate 100 comes into contact with the first spacer 10 formed on the counter substrate 200 so that an appropriate distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 is obtained. It is prescribed.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the spacer when the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 are overlapped. This cross section is, for example, a portion corresponding to the AA cross section of FIG. In FIG. 9, a black matrix BM is formed on the counter substrate 200, and a red color filter R and a green color filter G are stacked thereon. A columnar spacer made of a blue filter is formed on the green color filter G. An overcoat film OC, which is a protective layer, is formed so as to cover the green color filter G or the blue color filter B. On the overcoat film OC, an alignment film 106 for aligning liquid crystals is formed.

  A scanning line 101 is formed on the TFT substrate 100, and the scanning line 101 functions as a gate electrode in the TFT portion. A gate insulating film 103 is formed on the scanning line 101. An a-Si film 104 is formed on the portion where the TFT is formed. A source / drain electrode (SD electrode 102) is formed on the a-Si film 104 with the channel portion interposed therebetween. Three SD electrodes 102 are formed on the a-Si film 104. In this case, if the SD electrodes 102 on both sides are the source, the central SD electrode 102 is the drain. Or, the opposite may be said. The channel portion of the a-Si film 104 is subjected to channel etching for stabilizing the TFT characteristics.

  A spacer pedestal 15 is formed between the two TFTs at a portion corresponding to the spacer formed on the counter substrate 200 by the same material and the same process as the SD electrode 102. The spacer base 15 is provided with the first spacer 10 formed on the counter substrate 200 correspondingly. A passivation film 105 is formed of SiN so as to cover the TFT and the spacer base 15. The passivation film 105 is a film for protecting the TFT. An alignment film 106 is formed so as to cover the passivation film 105.

  In FIG. 9, the first spacer 10 formed on the counter substrate 200 and the spacer base 15 formed on the TFT substrate 100 are in contact with each other. The spacer pedestal 15 is formed by a pedestal metal 1022 formed by the same process as the SD electrode 102. The distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 is defined by the first spacer 10 and the spacer base 15.

  Forming the spacer pedestal 15 on the TFT substrate 100 side corresponding to the first spacer 10 is an example, and the interval between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 may be defined only by the first spacer 10. In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the spacer base 15 is not formed in the TFT substrate 100 of the part corresponding to the 2nd spacer 20 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 9, liquid crystal is filled between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200. As shown in FIG. 9, in the portion where the scanning line 101 is formed, since the color filter is stacked on the counter substrate 200 at a place other than the first spacer 10, the gap between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 is also present. Is small. Therefore, the amount of liquid crystal filled in this region is very small.

  In order to perform display using liquid crystal, the liquid crystal layer 107 needs to have a certain thickness. As described above, the portion where the liquid crystal layer 107 needs a certain thickness is a portion where the pixel electrode is formed. On the other hand, in the region where the scanning line 101 of the TFT substrate 100 is formed, the liquid crystal layer 107 does not contribute to display. Therefore, in this portion, the amount of liquid crystal used can be reduced when the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 107 is small. Since the liquid crystal material is expensive, the material cost can be suppressed by reducing the use of the liquid crystal in this portion, and the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal display device can be suppressed. In addition, since the amount of liquid crystal is small, stress due to thermal expansion of the liquid crystal can be reduced.

  In the example described in FIG. 9, the counter electrode is not formed on the counter substrate 200. The embodiment of FIG. 9 is a case where a pixel electrode and a counter electrode for driving the liquid crystal molecules 1071 are formed on the TFT substrate 100. Such a configuration is adopted in a so-called IPS (In Plane Swithcing) driving method in which the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules 1071 is controlled by being rotated in a direction parallel to the TFT substrate 100. However, the present invention described below can be applied not only to the IPS system but also to a general TN (Twisted Nematic) system in which a counter electrode is formed on the counter substrate 200 or a VA (Vertical Alignment) system.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a detailed view of region A in FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X2 in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line R1-R2 in FIG. 1A, and FIG. B1-B2 sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG.1 (e) is G1-G2 sectional drawing of Fig.1 (a). The shape of the pixel electrode shown in FIG. 1 has irregularities in line with the actual pixel electrode. In FIG. 1, pixels of the same color are arranged in the vertical direction, and pixels of different colors are arranged in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1B, 1D, and 1E, the first spacer 10 is provided between the green pixel GP and the green pixel GP, and the second spacer is provided between the blue pixel BP and the blue pixel BP. A spacer 20 is formed. These spacers are formed by color filters. As shown in FIG. 1B, the first spacer 10 is higher than the second spacer 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, in the first spacer 10, a red color filter R is laminated on the black matrix BM, and a green color filter G is further laminated thereon. On the green color filter G, a blue color filter B is stacked in a columnar shape to form a spacer. An overcoat film OC is formed thereon.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1B, in the second spacer 20 portion, first, a columnar red color filter R is formed on a black matrix BM, and a blue color filter B and a green color filter G are formed thereon. Are stacked. An overcoat film OC is formed thereon.

  The reason why the first spacer 10 is higher than the second spacer 20 is as follows. It is the same that the first spacer 10 and the second spacer 20 are formed by stacking three color filters. The difference between the first spacer 10 and the second spacer 20 is that in the first spacer 10, the spacer on the pillar is formed last, whereas in the second spacer 20, the spacer on the pillar is formed first. Is a point. The color filter is obtained by dispersing a pigment in a photosensitive organic resin, but is in a liquid state before being processed by photolithography. In the second spacer 20, a columnar red color filter is formed in the lower layer. Therefore, when the green and blue color filters are stacked on the second spacer 20, the color filter on the columnar shape becomes thin due to the leveling effect. On the other hand, in the first spacer 10, since the columnar shape is formed last, the leveling effect of the upper layer film as generated in the second spacer 20 does not occur. For this reason, the height of the first spacer 10 is higher than that of the second spacer 20.

  FIG.1 (c) is R1-R2 sectional drawing of Fig.1 (a). As shown in FIG. 1C, in this portion, only two layers of a red color filter R and a green color filter G are stacked on the black matrix BM. Therefore, the height of this portion is lower than the B1-B2 cross section, the G1-G2 cross section, etc. in FIG.

  FIG. 1D is a B1-B2 cross section of FIG. This is the cross-sectional shape of the second spacer 20. In this portion, three layers of color filters are formed in the order of the red color filter R, the green color filter G, and the blue color filter B on the black matrix BM, but the red color filter R is formed in a column shape. Therefore, as described above, the green color filter G, the blue color filter B, and the like on the red color filter R have a reduced film thickness due to the leveling effect.

  FIG. 1E is a G1-G2 cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A and shows a cross-sectional shape of the first spacer 10. In FIG. 1E, three layers of a red color filter R, a green color filter G, and a blue color filter B are formed on the black matrix BM. In FIG. 1E, since the blue color filter B to be stacked last is formed in a columnar shape, no leveling effect is produced in the red color filter R, the green color filter G, and the like. Accordingly, the height of the first spacer 10 shown in FIG. 1E is higher than that of the second spacer 20 shown in FIG.

  2-5 is a figure which shows the process of forming the opposing board | substrate 200 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, first, a black matrix BM is formed to define pixels. The black matrix BM is formed by applying a light shielding film to the entire counter substrate 200 and then removing the light shielding film from a portion corresponding to the pixel electrode by etching. A scanning line 101 is formed on the TFT substrate 100 in a portion corresponding to a strip-like portion extending in the horizontal direction of the black matrix BM.

  FIG. 3 shows a situation in which the red color filter R is formed on the R pixel and the black matrix BM. If the red color filter R exists on the red pixel RP, the original function of the color filter can be achieved. In this embodiment, the red color filter R is used as a spacer or for saving the material of the liquid crystal. For this reason, the red color filter R is also formed in portions other than the red pixel RP. That is, by forming the red color filter R in a stripe shape in the vertical direction, the liquid crystal filling amount between the red pixels RP can be saved.

  Also, a circular red color filter R between the blue pixels BP and a horizontally long strip-shaped red color filter R between the green pixels GP are part of the second spacer 20 and the first spacer 10, respectively. Yes. In FIG. 3, the plane of the red color filter R between the blue pixels BP is circular, and is smaller than the area of the red color filter R between the green pixels GP, whereby the second spacer 20 formed between the blue pixels BP. Is made smaller than the height of the first spacer 10 formed between the green pixels GP.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, a green color filter G is formed. Although the red color filter R is omitted in FIG. 4 to avoid the complexity of the drawing, the green color filter G is formed on the red color filter R formed in FIG. In FIG. 4, the green color filter G is formed in a stripe shape in the vertical direction continuously between the green pixels GP. Further, the green color filter G is formed to extend in the horizontal direction so as to cover the black matrix BM formed between the blue pixels BP and between the red pixels RP. A portion between the blue pixel BP and the blue pixel BP becomes a part of the second spacer 20, and a space between the red pixel RP and the red pixel RP becomes a filler for saving liquid crystal material.

  Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, a blue color filter B is formed. In FIG. 5, the red color filter R and the green color filter G are omitted for the sake of simplicity, but the green color filter G is formed on the green color filter G. In FIG. 5, the blue color filter B is formed in a stripe shape in the vertical direction so that the blue color filter B covers the BM between the blue pixels BP. Thereby, the liquid crystal material that should be filled between the blue pixels BP can be saved. Further, the blue color filter B becomes a part of the first spacer 10 by forming the blue color filter B in a circular shape between the green pixel GP and the green pixel GP. As described above, the first spacer 10 can be made higher than the second spacer 20 by forming the circular blue color filter B in the uppermost layer.

  In the above example, the difference in height between the first spacer 10 and the second spacer 20 is formed using the leveling effect of the color filter formed on the upper layer of the columnar color filter. As a method of giving a difference in the height of the spacer, in addition to using the leveling effect of the upper color filter, it can be performed by changing the area of the spacer itself formed by the color filter.

  That is, the color filter is formed in a predetermined shape by applying a liquid material and exposing it to light. In this case, the height after processing becomes larger as the area of the color filter is larger. Therefore, the height of the first spacer 10 or the second spacer 20 can be changed by changing the area of the circular color filter shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to have a large degree of freedom for changing the height of the spacer.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10A is a detailed view of region A in FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X1-X2 of FIG. 10A, FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line R1-R2 of FIG. 10A, and FIG. B1-B2 sectional view of FIG. 10, FIG.10 (e) is G1-G2 sectional drawing of Fig.10 (a). The shape of the pixel electrode in FIG. 10 has irregularities in line with the actual pixel electrode. In FIG. 10, pixels of the same color are arranged in the vertical direction, and pixels of different colors are arranged in the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 10B, 10D, and 10E, the first spacer 10 is provided between the green pixel GP and the green pixel GP, and the second spacer is provided between the blue pixel BP and the blue pixel BP. A spacer 20 is formed. These spacers are formed by color filters. As shown in FIG. 1B, the first spacer 10 is higher than the second spacer 20.

  The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the difference between the height of the second spacer 20 and the height of the first spacer 10 is made larger than in the first embodiment. This is because the second spacer 20 is formed by a method different from that in the first embodiment, and the height of the second spacer 20 is made smaller. In FIG. 10, the shape and configuration of the first spacer 10 formed between the green pixels GP are the same as those in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10A, the second spacer 20 between the blue pixels BP includes a red color filter R having a circular plane and a green color filter G having a circular plane. A blue color filter B is stacked on the stacked layers.

  As shown in FIGS. 10B and 10D, in the second spacer 20, a green color filter G is formed on the red color filter R formed in a columnar shape and also on the column. In this embodiment, since the area of the cylindrical green color filter G between the blue pixels BP is smaller than the area of the green color filter G in the first embodiment, the thickness of the green color filter G is the same as that in the first embodiment. Smaller than.

  11 to 14 are diagrams showing a process of forming the counter substrate 200 shown in FIG.

  11 and 12 are the same as FIGS. 2 and 3 in the first embodiment. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the shape of the green color filter G in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, the plan view of the green color filter G formed between the blue pixels BP is circular and has a smaller area than the green color filter G in the first embodiment. Therefore, the height of the green color filter G formed in the present embodiment is smaller than the height of the green color filter G formed in the first embodiment. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14, the formation of the blue color filter B is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  Note that only the red color filter R is formed on the black matrix BM between the red pixel RP and the red pixel RP, which is different from the first embodiment. Other configurations and effects are the same as those described in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in this embodiment, in addition to the leveling effect of the upper color filter by first forming the columnar color filter, the area of the color filter to be stacked is changed to change the final color of the second spacer 20. Changing the height. On the other hand, when it is desired to further increase the height of the first spacer 10, the area of the cylindrical green color filter G formed in the uppermost layer may be increased.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a peripheral light shielding film 220 is formed by a black matrix BM in a frame shape outside the display area 210 in the counter substrate 200 of the liquid crystal display panel. The TFT substrate 100 side corresponding to the peripheral light-shielding film 220 is outside the wiring region 140 where the TFT or wiring for it is formed, and the gap between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 is larger than that of the display region 210. large. Therefore, when a spacer having the same height as the display region 210 is formed in the peripheral light shielding film 220, the distance between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 is reduced. For example, as shown in FIG. 100 is deformed. FIG. 15 shows an example in which the peripheral spacer 30 is composed of a red color filter R formed in a stripe shape or a solid shape and a blue color filter B formed in a column shape. In FIG. 15, the thicknesses of the red color filter R and the blue color filter B are the same as those in the display area. FIG. 15 shows a case where the TFT substrate 100 is deformed, but the counter substrate 200 side may be deformed, contrary to FIG.

  As described above, when the substrate is deformed in the periphery, the influence is exerted on the display region 210 and the contrast is decreased in the periphery of the display region 210. In order to prevent such a phenomenon, it is preferable to make the height of the peripheral spacer 30 larger than that of the display region 210 in the peripheral light shielding film 220. In this case, if the height of the spacer of the peripheral light shielding film 220 is suddenly changed with respect to the display area 210, stress or the like is generated on the glass substrate.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, in the peripheral spacer 30 formed in the peripheral light shielding film 220, the area of the spacer formed in a columnar shape is increased toward the periphery, and the columnar shape is increased toward the periphery. The height of the spacer is increased. That is, in FIG. 16, the peripheral spacer 30 is composed of a red color filter R formed in a stripe shape and a green columnar color filter formed thereon, but the area of the green columnar color filter is around the periphery. As the result, the height of the peripheral spacer 30 is increased toward the periphery. According to the present embodiment, the height of the peripheral spacer 30 can be easily changed, and a decrease in contrast in the peripheral portion of the display region 210 can be prevented, and mechanical stress of the TFT substrate 100 or the counter substrate 200 can be reduced. I can do it.

  In the present embodiment, as described in the third embodiment, the peripheral contrast in the display region 210 is reduced due to the gap between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter substrate 200 being increased in the peripheral light shielding film 220 outside the display region 210, and the TFT substrate. 100 or another structure for preventing the stress of the counter substrate 200 is provided.

  FIG. 17 shows the configuration of this embodiment. In FIG. 17, a peripheral spacer 30 made of three layers of color filters is formed on the peripheral light shielding film 220 of the counter substrate 200. By using a three-layer color filter, the height of the peripheral spacer 30 in this embodiment is higher than that in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the green color filter G and the blue color filter B are columnar spacers. The height of the spacer on the peripheral side of the substrate is gradually increased by increasing the area of the columnar green color filter G toward the periphery.

  Although the area and height of the green color filter G are changed in FIG. 17, the area of the columnar blue color filter B can be changed when it is desired to change the height of the spacer more greatly in the peripheral portion. Therefore, in this embodiment, when it is desired to change the height of the peripheral spacers, it is possible to have a higher degree of design freedom.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the case where the counter electrode 201 for driving the liquid crystal is not formed on the counter substrate 200 has been described as an example. However, as described above, the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the counter electrode 201 is formed on the counter substrate 200. FIG. 18 shows an example of this configuration. FIG. 18 shows only a cross section of a portion where a spacer is formed for the sake of explanation. FIG. 18 shows only the first spacer 10 in FIG. Configurations other than the portions shown in FIG. 18 are the same as those described in the first or second embodiment.

  In FIG. 18, the counter substrate 200 is disposed on the lower side, and the TFT substrate 100 is disposed on the upper side. Wirings, TFTs, and the like formed on the TFT substrate 100 are omitted. In FIG. 18, a black matrix BM is formed on the counter substrate 200, and blue pixels BP or red pixels RP are formed on both sides of the black matrix BM. A red color filter R, a green color filter G, and a blue color filter B are stacked on the black matrix BM. As described in the first and second embodiments, the height of the spacer can be adjusted by changing the area of the spacer.

  In this embodiment, the counter electrode 201 is formed on the overcoat film OC of the counter substrate 200. When the counter electrode 201 is formed even on the columnar spacers, when the alignment film 106 is broken when the TFT substrate 100 and the spacer are in contact, the counter electrode 201 and the wiring formed on the TFT substrate 100 are in contact with each other. As a result, the counter electrode 201 and the wiring formed on the TFT substrate 100 may be short-circuited. In this embodiment, in order to prevent this danger, the counter electrode 201 is not formed on the spacer portion as shown in FIG. With this configuration, the present invention can be implemented even when the counter electrode 201 is formed on the counter substrate 200.

  Although the case where the present invention is applied to the first spacer 10 in the case where the counter electrode 201 is formed on the counter substrate 200 has been described above, the same applies to the case where the present invention is applied to the second spacer 20. That is, the height of the second spacer 20 is lower than that of the first spacer 10, but this is because the second spacer 20 has two color filter layers or the area of the columnar color filter is the first. It can be realized by making it smaller than the case of the spacer 10.

  FIG. 19 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a so-called VA liquid crystal display device. FIG. 19 shows only a cross section of a portion where a spacer is formed for the sake of explanation. FIG. 19 shows only the portion of the first spacer 10 in FIG. The configuration other than the portion shown in FIG. 19 is the same as that described in the first or second embodiment.

  In FIG. 19, the counter substrate 200 is disposed on the lower side and the TFT substrate 100 is disposed on the upper side. Wirings, TFTs, and the like formed on the TFT substrate 100 are omitted. In FIG. 19, a black matrix BM is formed on the counter substrate 200, and green pixels GP or red pixels RP are formed on both sides of the black matrix BM. A red color filter R, a green color filter G, and a blue color filter B are stacked on the black matrix BM. As described in the first and second embodiments, the height of the spacer can be adjusted by changing the area of the spacer.

  In this embodiment, a rib 205 is provided on the spacer. The rib 205 is also formed so as to extend over the pixel electrode, and has a function of inclining liquid crystal molecules and widening the viewing angle on the pixel electrode. In FIG. 19, the height of the spacer is formed by laminating a red color filter R, a green color filter G, and a blue color filter B, as in the first embodiment. In addition, as described in the first embodiment, the height of the spacer can be controlled by controlling the area of the color filter constituting the spacer or by using leveling by a method of stacking the color filters. .

  The difference between the present embodiment and the fifth embodiment is that the counter electrode 201 formed on the counter substrate 200 is formed even on the spacers of the color filters. In other words, in this embodiment, even if the counter electrode 201 is formed on the spacer by the color filter, the rib 205 exists in addition to the alignment film 106 between the TFT substrate 100 and the counter electrode 201. Since the probability of a short circuit between the electrode 201 and the wiring formed on the TFT substrate 100 is very small, such a configuration can be adopted.

  Thus, the present invention can also be applied to the VA system. Although the first spacer 10 in FIG. 7 has been described above, the second spacer 20 can be similarly realized as described in the fifth embodiment.

  10 First spacer, 15 Spacer base, 20 Second spacer, 30 Peripheral spacer, 100 TFT substrate, 101 Scan line, 102 SD electrode, 103 Gate insulating film, 104 a-Si, 105 Passivation film, 106 Alignment film, 107 Liquid crystal Layer, 130 terminal portion, 150 seal portion, 200 counter substrate, 201 counter electrode, 205 rib, 210 display area, 220 peripheral shading, 1021 video signal line, 1022 base metal, R red color filter, G green color filter, B blue Color filter, RP red pixel, GP green pixel, BP blue pixel, BM black matrix, OC overcoat film.

Claims (9)

A liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a TFT substrate, a counter substrate, and the TFT substrate and the counter substrate,
On the counter substrate, first pixels that display the first color by the first color filter are arranged in the vertical direction, and second pixels that display the second color by the second color filter are arranged in the vertical direction. The third pixels displaying the third color by the third color filter are arranged in the vertical direction,
The first color filter extends in a stripe shape in a vertical direction covering the first pixel,
The second color filter covers the second pixel and extends in a stripe shape in the vertical direction, and the third color filter covers the third pixel and extends in the vertical direction,
Between the first pixel and the first pixel, a first spacer in which a plurality of color filters including the first color filter are stacked is formed,
A second spacer is formed between the second pixel and the second pixel by a plurality of color filters including the second color filter,
The first color filter has a circular plane formed between the second pixel and the second pixel,
The area of the lower color filter of the plurality of color filters constituting the first spacer is larger than the area of the upper color filter,
The area of the lower color filter of the plurality of color filters constituting the second spacer is smaller than the area of the upper color filter,
The lower color filter is a lowermost color filter of the plurality of color filters, and the upper color filter is an uppermost color filter of the plurality of color filters;
The height of the first spacer, much larger than the height of the second spacer,
The third color filter extends in a horizontal direction in a stripe shape between the first pixel and the first pixel and between the third pixel and the third pixel. A liquid crystal display device. A counter electrode is formed on the counter substrate,
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the counter electrode is not formed on the first spacer portion. A counter electrode is formed on the counter substrate,
The counter electrode is formed on the first spacer portion;
The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a rib is provided on the first spacer.   4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the third color filter has a circular plane formed between the second pixel and the second pixel. 5.   The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the second color filter has a circular plane formed between the first pixel and the first pixel.   The area of the third color filter in which a plane is formed in a circular shape between the second pixel and the second pixel is such that the plane is circular between the second pixel and the second pixel. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal display device has an area smaller than an area of the first color filter formed on the substrate.   2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a pixel electrode and a counter electrode are formed on the TFT substrate.   The first spacer is formed by a three-layer color filter including the first color filter, and the second spacer is formed by a three-layer color filter including the second color filter. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of color filters are stacked between the third pixel and the third pixel.

Images