JP2000199904A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To decrease irregular luminance in a display screen, to prevent decrease in the contrast and luminance and generation of crosstalks, without decreasing the opening rate even when a black matrix having rather low optical density is used. SOLUTION: This device is equipped with color filters FIL formed on a substrate SUB2, a black matrix BM interposed between each of the color filters, electrode groups DL, CT, PX formed on a substrate SUB1, a liquid crystal LC having dielectric anisotropy between the substrates, alignment control layers ORI1, ORI2 for aligning the liquid crystal molecules along a specified direction. Columnar spacers SP containing particles RU, having an almost same size as the cell gap are disposed at the position of electrodes DL, CT, on which different voltages are applied and which are arranged in a region concealed with the black matrix BM.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device having a novel structure for maintaining a constant distance between a pair of substrates for sealing a liquid crystal composition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display device has been widely used as a display device capable of displaying a high-definition color image for a notebook computer or a computer monitor.

This type of liquid crystal display device basically constitutes a so-called liquid crystal panel in which a liquid crystal composition is sandwiched between at least two substrates made of transparent glass or the like at opposing gaps. A type (simple matrix type liquid crystal display device) in which a predetermined pixel is turned on and off by selectively applying a voltage to various electrodes for pixel formation formed on the substrate, and the above-mentioned various electrodes and an active element for pixel selection are formed. The active matrix type is broadly classified into a type in which predetermined pixels are turned on and off by selecting the active element (active matrix type liquid crystal display device).

An active matrix type liquid crystal display device is
Thin film transistor (TFT) as its active element
Is typical. 2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display device using a thin film transistor is widely used as a monitor for a display terminal of OA equipment because it is thin and lightweight and has high image quality comparable to a cathode ray tube.

[0005] The display methods of this liquid crystal display device are roughly classified into the following two types based on the difference in the method of driving the liquid crystal. Part 1
First, the liquid crystal composition is sandwiched between two substrates each having a transparent electrode, operated by a voltage applied to the transparent electrode, and light transmitted through the transparent electrode and incident on the liquid crystal composition layer is modulated for display. Most of the products currently in wide use adopt this method.

The other is to operate by an electric field formed almost parallel to the substrate surface between two electrodes formed on the same substrate, and to make light incident on a layer of the liquid crystal composition from a gap between the two electrodes. Is modulated and displayed, and has a feature that a viewing angle is extremely wide, and is a very promising method as an active matrix liquid crystal display device. Regarding the features of this method, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-505247,
JP-B-63-21907, JP-A-6-16087
No. 8 and other publications. Hereinafter, this type of liquid crystal display device is referred to as a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining an electric field formed in a liquid crystal display device of a horizontal electric field type. In this liquid crystal display device, a video signal line DL, a counter electrode CT, and a pixel electrode PX are formed on one substrate SUB1 and formed at an interface with a protective film PSV and a liquid crystal composition LC layer formed thereon. The other substrate SU having the orientation control layer ORI1
A color filter FIL partitioned by a black matrix BM on B2, and a film is formed so as to cover these layers so that components of the color filter and the black matrix do not affect the liquid crystal composition (hereinafter, also simply referred to as liquid crystal) LC. And an alignment control layer ORI2 formed at the interface with the overcoat layer OC and the liquid crystal LC layer.

GI and AOF on one substrate SUB1
Represents an insulating film, the video signal line DL comprises two layers of conductive films d1 and d2, and the counter electrode CT comprises a conductive film g1 and a pixel electrode PX.
Is composed of a conductive film g2.

The distance between the pair of substrates SUB1 and SUB2 (the thickness of the liquid crystal composition layer: cell gap) is set to a predetermined value by dispersing spherical spacers (not shown) between the two substrates. It is common to do. Polarizing plates are provided on the outer surfaces of the substrates SUB1 and SUB2, respectively, but are not shown.

Although not related to the horizontal electrolysis type liquid crystal display, a conical spacer is fixedly formed on the protective film of the color filter substrate instead of such a spherical spacer, or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-7 / 1993 describes a method in which a columnar spacer is fixedly formed by laminating color filter layers.
No. 3088 discloses this.

In FIG. 9, a pixel electrode PX and a counter electrode C
Although the orientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal LC is controlled by an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate formed between T and T, an image is displayed, but an electric field that does not contribute to display is provided between the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT. Occurs. If the distance between these electrodes is too small, the electric field strength between the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT becomes strong, and the liquid crystal LC is driven, so that unwanted light passes through the liquid crystal.

The black matrix BM is located in a region between these electrodes, but if the optical density of the black matrix BM is low, the above-mentioned transmitted light cannot be completely blocked and light leakage occurs. This light leakage adversely affects display quality, such as lowering of contrast and occurrence of crosstalk.
In order to solve this, it is necessary to increase the distance between the above-mentioned electrodes and to increase the optical density of the black matrix BM.

In FIG. 9, the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT are adjacent to each other.
A similar problem occurs even when the pixel electrode PX is adjacent to the pixel electrode PX.

[0014]

There are two problems to be solved by the present invention. One of the problems is a problem in a liquid crystal display device in which a spacer is fixedly formed on a color filter substrate instead of a spherical spacer. Hereinafter, the spacer formed in this manner is particularly referred to as a columnar spacer.

The spacer is required to make the thickness of the liquid crystal layer uniform within the display surface. This is because if the uniformity is insufficient, uneven brightness in the display screen due to uneven thickness of the liquid crystal layer occurs. When forming columnar spacers, it is difficult to form columnar spacers uniformly. The reason is due to the method of forming the columnar spacer.

In general, columnar spacers are formed by applying a photosensitive resist on a color filter or a TFT substrate, exposing the resist to a mask, and developing the photosensitive resist, and thus are affected by uneven coating, uneven exposure, and uneven development.

A second problem to be solved by the present invention relates to a pixel design in a liquid crystal display device of an in-plane switching mode. Increasing the distance between the electrodes and increasing the optical density of the black matrix BM as in the prior art has the following problems.

That is, the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT
Alternatively, if the distance between the video signal line and the pixel electrode PX is increased to reduce the electric field strength between the electrodes, the display pixel area must be narrowed, and the brightness and consumption due to the decrease in the aperture ratio are reduced. This leads to an increase in power.

On the other hand, there are the following problems in increasing the optical density of the black matrix BM. In a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device, the black matrix BM needs to have a high resistance (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-43589). This is because the electrical characteristics of the black matrix BM affect the formation of a horizontal electric field substantially parallel to the substrate.
If the resistance of the black matrix BM is low, an ideal horizontal electric field is not formed, which causes problems such as a decrease in luminance, a decrease in contrast, and a decrease in viewing angle.

In order to increase the resistance of the black matrix BM, it is desirable to use a pigment-dispersed resin resist. At this time, if the pigment concentration ratio in the resist is increased in order to increase the optical density of the black matrix BM, the resin concentration decreases, and the photolithography processability deteriorates.

Specifically, there are problems such as a decrease in resolution, a decrease in development margin, and a tendency to generate pigment residues. Further, when the optical density is increased by increasing the film thickness of the black matrix BM, the flatness of the color filter deteriorates, the rubbing property of the orientation control layer ORI2 and the thickness of the liquid crystal LC (so-called cell It is difficult to make the gap uniform, resulting in poor display quality such as deterioration of response speed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above two problems, to reduce luminance unevenness in a display screen, and to use a black matrix having a relatively low optical density without lowering the aperture ratio. Even the brightness of the contrast was reduced,
An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device that does not generate crosstalk.

[0023]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a columnar spacer containing particles having a size substantially equal to the thickness of a liquid crystal layer formed between a pair of substrates constituting a liquid crystal panel. Is characterized.

Typical configurations of the present invention are as described in the following (1) to (5). That is, (1) a pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, at least two or more types of color filters having different colors for color display formed on one of the pair of substrates, and interposed between the color filters; A black matrix, an electrode group formed on the pair of substrates, a layer of a liquid crystal composition having dielectric anisotropy between the pair of substrates, and a molecular arrangement of the layer of the liquid crystal composition in a predetermined direction. A liquid crystal panel having an alignment control layer for alignment, and driving means for applying a driving voltage to the electrode group, wherein at least one of the pair of substrates has a thickness substantially equal to a desired liquid crystal layer thickness. A columnar spacer containing particles of a size was formed.

With this configuration, it is possible to obtain a liquid crystal display device having a uniform so-called cell gap and uniform luminance within a display screen.

(2) A pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, at least two or more types of color filters having different colors for color display formed on one of the pair of substrates, and interposed between the color filters. A black matrix, an electrode group including a signal wiring and a common wiring formed on the other of the pair of substrates, and a layer of a liquid crystal composition having a dielectric anisotropy between the pair of substrates. A liquid crystal panel having an alignment control layer for arranging the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal composition layer in a predetermined direction, a polarizing plate laminated on each of the pair of substrates with a polarization axis orthogonal to each other, and Driving means for applying a driving voltage to the electrode group, wherein the electrode group applies a voltage mainly parallel to an interface between the alignment control layer and the liquid crystal composition layer. And a columnar spacer including particles having a size substantially equal to the thickness of a desired liquid crystal layer on at least one of the pair of substrates, and a columnar spacer including the particles. The columnar spacer was formed at a portion between the signal wiring and the common wiring arranged at a position hidden by the black matrix, the dielectric property or the conductivity being higher than that of the liquid crystal composition.

According to this structure, the mechanical strength of the columnar spacer is improved, the electric field is prevented from being disturbed by the provision of the columnar spacer, and a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device having high contrast, brightness and no crosstalk is generated. can get. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a horizontal electric field type liquid crystal display device having a high contrast, a high luminance, and no crosstalk in a black matrix having a relatively low optical density without a decrease in aperture ratio.

(3) The particles contained in the columnar spacer in (2) were used as conductive beads.

By making the particles contained in the columnar spacers conductive, the electric properties can be easily changed by arbitrarily setting the resistance value and the dielectric constant together with the material of the columnar spacers. By forming a small spacer having a high dielectric constant, the noise electric field can be concentrated on the spacer, and the influence of the domain can be reduced.

(4) The columnar spacer in (2) or (3) is formed of the same material as the protective film formed on the color filter formed on the one substrate.

(5) On the other substrate in (2) to (4), a protective film made of an organic material containing a conductive spacer was formed.

According to the above configurations (4) and (5), the columnar spacer can be formed simultaneously with the protective film, so that the production is easy.

[0033]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a liquid crystal panel constituting a lateral electric field type active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 'of FIG. 1 and 2, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9 correspond to the same functional parts, and a pair of substrates SUB1
The various electrodes and each structural film arranged between and SUB2 are:
9 is the same as FIG. 9 except for the columnar spacer SP and the particles RU contained therein.

That is, in FIG. 1, DL is a video signal line, SD2 is a drain electrode extending from the video signal line, CL
Is a counter voltage signal line, CT is the same counter electrode as the counter voltage signal line, PX is the pixel electrode, SD1 is the same source electrode as the pixel electrode, Cstg is the storage capacitor, GL is the scanning signal line, GT
Is the same gate electrode as the scanning electrode, BM is a black matrix (indicated by the boundary line of the pixel portion opening), TFT is a thin film transistor, and SP is a columnar spacer. Note that the oblique lines in FIG. 1 represent a region between the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT.

In FIG. 2, SUB1 is one substrate (active matrix substrate or TFT substrate),
UB2 is the other substrate (color filter substrate), GI is a gate insulating film, PSV is a passivation layer (protective film),
ORI1 is an alignment film on one substrate side, LC is a liquid crystal layer, OR
I2 is an alignment film on the other substrate side, OC is an overcoat layer, FIL is a color filter, and BM is a black matrix.

RU is particles contained in the columnar spacer, DL (d1, d2) is a video signal line, CT (g1) is a counter electrode, PX (g2) is a pixel electrode, and AOF is an insulating layer made of an aluminum oxide film. It is. Note that d1, in parentheses above,
d2, g1 and g2 indicate conductor layers forming those wirings or electrodes.

POL1 and POL2 disposed outside each of the pair of substrates SUB1 and SUB2 are polarizing plates.

The columnar spacer SP is formed of a resist of the same material as that of the orientation film ORI2, and contains therein a particle RU having substantially the same size as the cell gap. For this reason,
Even if the height of the resist portion of the columnar spacer SP is smaller than the cell gap, a desired cell gap can be formed by the particles RU in the columnar spacer. Therefore, the cell gap becomes uniform, and the luminance in the display screen becomes uniform.

Although the columnar spacers SP are formed on the color filter substrate (the other substrate SUB2) in this embodiment, the active matrix substrate (the one substrate SU) is formed.
It may be formed on the B1) side.

FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a liquid crystal panel constituting a horizontal electric field type active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 'of FIG.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, FIGS.
The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the same functional parts, and a pair of substrates SUB
Various electrodes and each structural film disposed between 1 and SUB2 are the same as in the first embodiment except for the shape and arrangement of the columnar spacer SP.

As shown in FIG. 4, the columnar spacers SP are formed in pairs immediately below the black matrix BM.
In order to partially cover the region between the video signal line DL corresponding to the pixel and the counter electrode CT, the portion surrounded by the thick line in FIG. 3 is arranged parallel to both sides of the video signal line DL.

In the present embodiment, the number of columnar spacers SP per pixel is six as shown in FIG. 3, but this number is not limited to six.
L are arranged on both sides in pairs, but they may be arranged on both sides in a staggered manner or randomly. Although the planar shape of the columnar spacer SP is an elliptical shape, other shapes such as a circular shape, a square shape, and a diamond shape may be used.

The reason why unwanted light leakage from the region between the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT can be prevented by the configuration of each embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The liquid crystal LC is provided only in a portion between the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT, that is, only in a portion having no columnar spacer SP.
Does not exist. When the liquid crystal LC is driven, the light transmittance changes. Therefore, if the area where the liquid crystal LC exists is reduced, the area where the light transmittance changes is also reduced, and the light transmission between the video signal line DL and the counter electrode CT is reduced. Change is reduced.
Therefore, the required value of the optical density of the black matrix BM can be reduced as compared with the case where there is no columnar spacer SP.

Further, the dielectric constant characteristics of the columnar spacer SP,
Alternatively, when the conductivity characteristic is higher than that of the liquid crystal LC, an electric field is more easily formed on the columnar spacer SP than in the liquid crystal LC. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the liquid crystal LC to be driven by the electric field between these electrodes. For this reason, it becomes easy to shield light even in a portion where the columnar spacer SP is not provided.

Since a UV-curable photosensitive resin is generally used as a constituent material of the columnar spacer, it is actually difficult to control the above-mentioned electrical characteristics to a desired value. In the present invention, the above-described electric characteristics are controlled by using the electric characteristics of the particles RU included in the columnar spacer SP.

Although the columnar spacer SP is formed on the color filter substrate (the other substrate SUB2), it may be formed on the active matrix substrate (the one substrate SUB1).

With this configuration, it is possible to improve the contrast and brightness and to prevent the occurrence of crosstalk.

Next, the outline of the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device of each embodiment of the present invention will be described.

First, in the same manner as in a known process for forming a thin film transistor, a thin film transistor TFT made of amorphous silicon AS is formed by repeating film formation and patterning on a glass substrate having a thickness of 0.7 mm or 1.1 mm as one substrate SUB1. , A storage capacitor Cstg and an electrode group of the pixel electrode PX, the source electrode SD1, and the counter electrode CT. Furthermore, a plurality of video signal lines DL for applying a predetermined voltage to the electrode group via the thin film transistor TFT, a plurality of scanning signal lines GL for controlling conduction of the thin film transistor TFT, a plurality of scanning signal lines GL for controlling the conduction of the thin film transistor TFT, and a plurality of gate electrodes. GTs are formed in a lattice to form an active matrix substrate.

The thin film transistor TFT, each electrode group and each wiring are covered with an insulating film GI and a protective film PSV. Thereafter, an alignment film material is applied and baked, and a liquid crystal alignment control ability is imparted by a rubbing process or a photo alignment process to obtain an alignment control layer ORI1.

The other substrate SUB2 has a thickness of 0.1 mm.
A photosensitive black resist is applied to a 7 mm or 1.1 mm glass substrate, and a black matrix is formed through exposure, development, and baking steps using a photomask having a predetermined pattern.

Next, the same exposure, development, and baking steps as described above are repeated using a photosensitive red, green, and blue resin resist to form a color filter layer FIL (red colored layer FIL (R)). , Green colored layer FIL (G), blue colored layer F
IL (B)).

As a material of the columnar spacer, an ultraviolet curable resin resist mixed with a spherical spacer (plastic bead) is used. The above-mentioned UV-curable resin resist containing a spherical spacer is applied on the entire surface of the color filter layer, and the positions where the spacers SP are to be formed are irradiated with ultraviolet rays through a photomask having a desired pattern and developed.

At this time, the developing time is stopped at a time at which the non-photosensitive portion is not removed, and baking is performed to form the protective film OC covering the black matrix BM and the color filter layer FIL and the columnar spacer SP.

When the dielectric properties and the conductivity properties of the columnar spacer are made higher than those of the liquid crystal, the dielectric properties and the conductivity properties of the spherical spacer mixed into the columnar spacer material are controlled. For example, a spacer containing carbon black or metal fine particles inside or on the surface of a spherical spacer is used.

Since the top (the end on the SUB1 side) of the columnar spacer SP is substantially flat, the columnar spacer SP is not a gradual forward taper, but has a character-like columnar spacer SP whose bottom and crest have substantially the same area. Becomes

After the black matrix BM and the colored layer (color filter) FIL are formed, a transparent UV-curable resin resist is applied and baked to cover the entire surface with the protective film OC. Is applied to a position where the spacer SP is desired to be formed through a photomask having a desired pattern, and is then developed and fired to obtain the columnar spacer SP.

Thereafter, an alignment film material is applied to a color filter substrate and baked to obtain an alignment film ORI having a liquid crystal alignment control ability.
Get 2.

The columnar spacer SP may be formed on the active matrix substrate (SUB1) side. In this case, a transparent ultraviolet curable resin resist is applied on the insulating film PSV of the active matrix substrate, and the spacer SP
A column spacer SP is also obtained by irradiating ultraviolet rays through a photomask having a desired pattern to a position where a pattern is to be formed, and developing and baking.

Further, a protective film PSV is deposited by the height of the columnar spacer SP, a resin resist for patterning is applied, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated to a position where the columnar spacer SP is to be formed through a photomask having a desired pattern. The columnar spacer SP and the protective film PSV can be formed simultaneously by patterning, etching the protective film PSV by dry etching, and controlling the etching time.

The active matrix substrate and the color filter substrate manufactured as described above are opposed to each other, and the periphery thereof is fixed with an adhesive leaving a liquid crystal filling port, and a liquid crystal composition is sealed between the two substrates. The liquid crystal filling port is sealed with a sealing material. Thereafter, the distance between the two substrates is regulated by a columnar spacer by pressing to obtain a liquid crystal display device having a predetermined cell gap.

Next, the driving means of the liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied and specific product examples will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory view of the driving means of the liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied. The liquid crystal display device is composed of a group of a plurality of pixels in which an image display unit is arranged in a matrix, and each pixel can independently control the modulation of transmitted light from a backlight (not shown) arranged behind the liquid crystal display device. It is configured as follows.

On an active matrix substrate (SUB1), which is one of the components of the liquid crystal display substrate, the active pixel region AR extends in the x direction (row direction) and the y direction (column direction).
The video signal lines DL which are insulated from the scanning signal lines GL and the counter voltage signal lines CL and extend in the y direction and are arranged in the x direction are formed.

Here, a unit pixel is formed in a rectangular area surrounded by each of the scanning signal line GL, the counter voltage signal line CL, and the video signal line DL.

The liquid crystal display device includes a vertical scanning circuit V and a video signal driving circuit H as external circuits, and the vertical scanning circuit V sequentially supplies a scanning signal (voltage) to each of the scanning signal lines GL. The video signal drive circuit H supplies a video signal (voltage) to the video signal line DL in accordance with the timing.

The vertical scanning circuit V and the video signal drive circuit H are supplied with power from the liquid crystal drive power supply circuit 3 and input image information from the CPU 1 after being divided into display data and control signals by the controller 2. It is supposed to be.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a driving waveform of a liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied. In FIG.
A binary AC rectangular wave of CH and VCL is formed, and in synchronism therewith, the non-selection voltages of the scanning signals VG (i-1) and VG (i) are changed by binary values of VCH and VCL every scanning period.
The amplitude width of the counter voltage and the amplitude value of the non-selection voltage are the same.

The video signal voltage is a voltage obtained by subtracting 振幅 of the amplitude of the counter voltage from the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal layer.

The counter voltage may be DC, but by converting it to AC, the maximum amplitude of the video signal voltage can be reduced, and a video signal drive circuit (signal-side driver) having a low withstand voltage can be used.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the overall structure of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.
A liquid crystal display module in which two substrates SUB1 and SUB2 are bonded to each other, a driving unit, a backlight, and a liquid crystal display module (hereinafter, referred to as an MDL) in which other components are integrated is described.

SHD is a shield case (also called a metal frame) made of a metal plate, WD is a display window, INS1
3 to 3 are insulating sheets, PCBs 1 to 3 are circuit boards constituting driving means (PCB 1 is a drain side circuit board: a circuit board for driving a video signal line, PCB 2 is a gate side circuit board, PCB
3 is an interface circuit board), JN1 to 3 are joiners for electrically connecting the circuit boards PCB1 to PCB3, TC
P1 and TCP2 are tape carrier packages, PNL is a liquid crystal panel, GC is a rubber cushion, ILS is a light shielding spacer, PRS is a prism sheet, SPS is a diffusion sheet,
GLB is a light guide plate, RFS is a reflection sheet, MCA is a lower case (mold frame) formed by integral molding, MO is an MCA opening, LP is a fluorescent tube, LPC is a lamp cable, and GB supports a fluorescent tube LP. A rubber bush, BAT denotes a double-sided adhesive tape, BL denotes a backlight made of a fluorescent tube, a light guide plate, and the like, and a liquid crystal display module MDL is assembled by stacking diffusion plate members in the arrangement shown in the figure.

The liquid crystal display module MDL has two kinds of storage / holding members of a lower case MCA and a shield case SHD, and includes insulating sheets INS1 to INS3 and circuit boards PCB1 to PCB1.
3. A metal shield case SHD in which a liquid crystal panel PNL is stored and fixed, and a lower case MCA in which a backlight BL including a fluorescent tube LP, a light guide plate GLB, a prism sheet PRS, and the like are stored are combined.

An integrated circuit chip for driving each pixel of the liquid crystal panel PNL is mounted on the video signal line driving circuit board PCB1, and an interface circuit board PCB3
Is mounted with an integrated circuit chip that receives a video signal from an external host, receives a control signal such as a timing signal, and a timing converter TCON that processes timing to generate a clock signal.

The clock signal generated by the timing converter is integrated on the video signal line driving circuit board PCB1 via the clock signal line CLL laid on the interface circuit board PCB3 and the video signal line driving circuit board PCB1. Supplied to the circuit chip.

The interface circuit board PCB3 and the video signal line driving circuit board PCB1 are multilayer wiring boards, and the clock signal line CLL is connected to the interface circuit board PCB3 and the video signal line driving circuit board PC
It is formed as an inner wiring of B1.

The liquid crystal panel PNL has a drain-side circuit board PCB1, a gate-side circuit board PCB2, and an interface circuit board PCB3 for driving TFTs.
Are connected by tape carrier packages TCP1 and TCP2, and the circuit boards are connected by joiners JN1, JN2, JN3.

The liquid crystal panel PNL is an in-plane switching mode active matrix type liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, and includes the columnar spacer described in the above embodiment in order to maintain the distance between the two substrates at a predetermined value. ing.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a notebook computer as an example of an electronic apparatus on which the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is mounted.

This notebook computer (portable personal computer) comprises a keyboard section (main body section) and a display section connected to the keyboard section by a hinge. Keyboard and host (host computer), CP
U and other signal generation functions, and the display unit has a liquid crystal panel P
NL, and drive circuit boards PCB1 and PCB
2, PCB3 with control chip TCON,
In addition, an inverter power supply board serving as a backlight power supply is mounted.

Then, the liquid crystal display module described in FIG. 11 in which the liquid crystal display panel PNL, the various circuit boards PCB1, PCB2, PCB3, the inverter power supply board, and the backlight are integrated is mounted.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the present invention is applied to a so-called in-plane switching type liquid crystal display device has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be similarly applied to other liquid crystal display devices that need to keep the cell gap uniform at the point where particles are mixed into the spacer.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The cell gap in the display screen is made uniform by the columnar spacer arranged between the video signal line and the counter electrode or so as to cover the area of the video signal line and the pixel electrode and the particles therein having the same size as the cell gap. Thus, the luminance in the display screen becomes uniform.

Further, since the liquid crystal in the region between the electrodes is partially excluded, the transmitted light in the region between the electrodes is hardly affected by the electric field formed between the electrodes.

Accordingly, the amount of light leakage in the area is reduced, the contrast and the luminance are improved, the occurrence of crosstalk is prevented, and a liquid crystal display device for displaying a high-quality image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a principal part schematically illustrating a configuration in the vicinity of one pixel of a liquid crystal panel constituting a horizontal electric field type active matrix type liquid crystal display device which is a first embodiment of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. .

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 1-1 'of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a principal part schematically illustrating a configuration near one pixel of a liquid crystal panel constituting an in-plane switching mode active matrix type liquid crystal display device which is a second embodiment of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. .

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 'of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a driving unit of a liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a driving waveform of a liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the overall configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a notebook computer as an example of an electronic device on which the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part explaining an electric field formed in a liquid crystal display device of a horizontal electric field mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

DL Video signal line SD2 Drain electrode extending from video signal line CL Counter voltage signal line CT Counter electrode same as counter voltage signal line PX Pixel electrode SD1 Source electrode same as pixel electrode Cstg Storage capacitance GL Scan signal line GT Same as scan electrode Gate electrode BM Black matrix (indicated by the boundary of the opening of the pixel portion) TFT Thin film transistor SP Columnar spacer. RU particles ORI alignment film OC overcoat layer FIL color filter AOF insulating film LC liquid crystal layer GI gate insulating film PSV passivation layer (protective film) POL polarizing plate SUB substrate.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, at least two or more kinds of color filters having different colors for color display formed on one of the pair of substrates, and interposed between the color filters. A black matrix, an electrode group formed on the pair of substrates, a layer of a liquid crystal composition having dielectric anisotropy between the pair of substrates, and a molecular arrangement of the layer of the liquid crystal composition in a predetermined direction. A liquid crystal panel having an alignment control layer for alignment, and a driving unit for applying a driving voltage to the electrode group, wherein at least one of the pair of substrates has a thickness substantially equal to a desired liquid crystal layer thickness. A liquid crystal display device comprising a columnar spacer including particles having a size. 2. A pair of substrates, at least one of which is transparent, at least two or more types of color filters having different colors for color display formed on one of the pair of substrates, and interposed between the color filters. A black matrix, an electrode group including a signal wiring and a common wiring formed on the other of the pair of substrates, a layer of a liquid crystal composition having dielectric anisotropy between the pair of substrates, and A liquid crystal panel having an alignment control layer for arranging the molecular arrangement of the liquid crystal composition layer in a predetermined direction, a polarizing plate laminated on each of the pair of substrates with a polarization axis orthogonal to each other, and the electrode A driving unit for applying a driving voltage to the group, wherein the electrode group is arranged so as to apply a voltage mainly parallel to an interface between the alignment control layer and the liquid crystal composition layer. Having a columnar spacer containing particles of a size substantially equal to the thickness of a desired liquid crystal layer on at least one of the pair of substrates, and a dielectric of the columnar spacer containing the particles. The liquid crystal composition has a higher rate characteristic or conductivity characteristic, and the columnar spacer is formed at a part between the signal wiring and the common wiring arranged at a position hidden by the black matrix. Liquid crystal display device. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the particles contained in the columnar spacer are conductive beads. 4. The color filter according to claim 2, wherein the columnar spacer is formed of the same material as a protective film formed on the color filter formed on the one substrate. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to 1. 5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, further comprising a protective film made of an organic material including a conductive spacer on the other substrate.