JP2008268844A - Liquid crystal display device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of reducing the degradation of image quality caused by a tapered portion of a retardation layer in the liquid crystal display device in which the retardation layer is provided in its inner surface, and to provide an electronic apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: In the liquid crystal display device 100, the retardation layer 27 in a reflective display area 100r is formed in a belt like shape so as to straddle two adjacent pixels 100a sandwiching a pixel boundary region 10f positioned every other one. Since an end portion 27d in the longitudinal direction of the retardation layer 27 is positioned on the outer side of an image display region 10a, an end portion 27c in the width direction of the retardation layer 27 exists in only one point even in the pixel 100a positioned in an end part of the pixel display region 10a. Thereby, the decrease in image quality due to the end portions 27c and 27d (the tapered portion 27a) can be suppressed in any pixel 100a. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal device in which a retardation layer is formed on the inner surface side of a liquid crystal panel.

  For the purpose of realizing a wide viewing angle of liquid crystal display devices, the so-called fringe field switching (hereinafter referred to as FFS (Fringe Field Switching)) method, in-plane switching (hereinafter referred to as IPS (In-Plane Switching)) method, etc. Liquid crystal display devices of a type in which liquid crystal is driven by a lateral electric field are being put into practical use. In addition, a liquid crystal display device of this type has been proposed in which each of a plurality of pixels includes a transmissive display area and a reflective display area. Furthermore, the objective is to eliminate the retardation difference caused by the difference in the length of the path that the light follows between the transmission mode and the reflection mode while minimizing the influence of the viewing angle dependency of the retardation plate. It has been proposed that a retardation layer made of a liquid crystal polymer is provided on the surface of the substrate on which the liquid crystal layer is located (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-338256 A

  However, since the retardation layer is formed by a method such as applying a liquid crystal polymer to the substrate surface unlike a sheet-like retardation plate, a wide tapered portion is generated at the end, and the tapered portion The light that passes through and is emitted is not properly modulated. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the cross-section and the plane of the FFS mode liquid crystal display device according to the reference example are respectively shown in the transmissive display region 100t and the reflective display region 100r. And the reflective display region 100r is set in the substantially central region of the pixel 100a, the phase difference layer 27 (see FIG. 6 (FIG. 6)) is formed on the surface of the counter substrate 20 on the side where the liquid crystal layer 50 is located. In b), a region with a diagonal line rising to the right is formed. As a result, in the retardation layer 27, a wide tapered portion 27a is generated at each of both end portions in the direction in which the data line 5a extends. In the tapered portion 27a, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is not uniform, and the retardation of the retardation layer 27 is not constant, so that the tapered portion 27a does not contribute to display and causes a decrease in contrast.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to reduce display quality degradation caused by a tapered portion of a retardation layer in a pixel including a transmissive display region and a reflective display region including a retardation layer. An object is to provide a liquid crystal display device and an electronic device that can be suppressed.

  In order to solve the above problems, in a first liquid crystal device according to the present invention, in a liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates, a plurality of pixels each including a transmissive display region and a reflective display region And a retardation layer disposed on the inner surface side of the pair of substrates and at least overlapping with the reflective display region, wherein the retardation layer is adjacent to at least two of the plurality of pixels. A second end of the second pixel that is formed across the reflective display region of one pixel, and whose first end is located in one of the two adjacent pixels and faces the first end. The end of is located in the other pixel. The retardation layer has a tapered end. The two adjacent pixels are arranged such that their reflective display areas face each other across a pixel boundary area extending in the first direction. The plurality of pixels include a plurality of pixels arranged side by side along the first direction, and the retardation layer extends over the plurality of pixels. The pixel includes a pixel electrode, a switching element connected to the pixel electrode, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode, and the switching element is connected to a scanning line and a signal line, One of the scanning line and the signal line is formed in the pixel boundary region extending in the first direction.

  In the first liquid crystal device, the retardation layer is formed across the reflective display area of at least two adjacent pixels of the plurality of pixels, and the first end portion is the two adjacent pixels. One end of the retardation layer is included in one pixel because the second end facing the first end is positioned in the other pixel. Will be located. Therefore, even when the end portion of the retardation layer is a tapered portion that lowers the display quality, the area occupied by the tapered portion in the pixel is extremely small, so the display caused by the tapered portion of the retardation layer Degradation can be kept small. Even in the case of a step having no tapered portion of the retardation layer, a display defect occurs in the step portion, so that the present invention is effective.

  In the first liquid crystal device, it is preferable that a third end portion intersecting the first end portion or the second end portion of the retardation layer is located outside the plurality of pixels. In that case, the plurality of pixels include display pixels arranged in the image display area and dummy pixels arranged outside the image display area, and the third end portion of the retardation layer is a dummy pixel. It is more preferable to make it further outside.

  When the third end of the retardation layer is located in the pixel, the first or second end of the retardation layer and the third end are located in this pixel. As a result, in this pixel, the tapered portion occupies a large area, but in the present invention, the third end portion of the retardation layer is located outside the plurality of pixels. Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the pixel is arranged on the outermost side among the plurality of pixels, the area occupied by the tapered portion is small in the pixel, so that the display quality due to the tapered portion of the retardation layer is reduced. Can be kept small.

  This effect can be obtained as long as the third end portion of the retardation layer is disposed outside the display pixel disposed in the image display region. However, a dummy pixel is disposed outside the display pixel, and the retardation layer It becomes more remarkable by disposing the third end portion further outside the dummy pixel. This is because the distance between the third end portion having the taper portion and the display pixel at the outermost position is further increased, so that the influence of the alignment failure around the taper portion can also be eliminated. Of course, a configuration may be adopted in which dummy pixels are arranged outside the display pixels and the third end portion of the retardation layer is located in the dummy pixels.

  The first liquid crystal device preferably has a light shielding region overlapping the third end portion. As an example, a configuration in which a light-shielding region that surrounds the periphery of the image display region in a frame shape is provided on the viewer-side substrate, and an end of the retardation layer is disposed in the light-shielding region, or a third end of the retardation layer is provided. There exists a structure which covers a part with black resin etc. with a high light absorption factor. Of course, by combining these two configurations, the third end portion of the retardation layer and the frame-shaped light shielding region are arranged so as to overlap in a plane, and then the third end portion is covered with a black resin or the like. It is more effective when configured. At that time, the resin covering the third end is positioned inside the frame-shaped light shielding region and is configured not to protrude outside the light shielding region. This is to prevent distortion in the frame of the image display area.

  The first liquid crystal device has a configuration in which both a pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed on one of a pair of substrates, and a horizontal or oblique electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Although it can be suitably used for a liquid crystal device such as a so-called fringe field switching (hereinafter referred to as FFS (Fringe Field Switching)) method or an in-plane switching (hereinafter referred to as IPS (In-Plane Switching)) method for driving a liquid crystal, You may use for the liquid crystal device of other systems, such as a TN (twisted nematic) system, a vertical alignment system, and an OCB system.

    In the second liquid crystal device of the present invention, in the liquid crystal device in which the liquid crystal layer is held between the pair of substrates, the plurality of pixels are arranged on the inner surface side of the pair of substrates and at least overlap with the pixels. A retardation layer formed between the plurality of pixels, and an end portion of the retardation layer is located outside the plurality of pixels. The configuration of the present invention is more effective when the end portion of the retardation layer has a tapered shape.

  In the second liquid crystal device, the plurality of pixels include a display pixel arranged in an image display region and a dummy pixel arranged outside the image display region, and the end portion of the dummy pixel is More preferably, it is located outside. When the end portion of the retardation layer is located in the pixel, the display quality is deteriorated due to the end portion of the retardation layer being tapered. However, in the second liquid crystal device, the retardation layer Is located outside the plurality of pixels. For this reason, even if it is a pixel located in the edge part in an image display area among several pixels, the fall of the display quality resulting from the edge part of this phase difference layer can be suppressed small. This effect can be obtained as long as the end of the retardation layer is arranged outside the display pixel arranged in the image display area. However, a dummy pixel is arranged outside the display pixel, and the end of the retardation layer is arranged. It becomes more prominent by disposing further outside the dummy pixel. This is because the distance between the end portion having the taper portion and the display pixel at the outermost position is further increased, so that the influence of the alignment failure around the taper portion can also be eliminated. Of course, a configuration may be adopted in which dummy pixels are arranged outside the display pixels and the end portion of the retardation layer is positioned in the dummy pixels. Even in the case where the end portion of the retardation layer is a step having no tapered portion, the present invention is effective because a display defect occurs in the step portion.

  In the second liquid crystal device, it is preferable to have a light-shielding region that overlaps the end of the retardation layer. As an example, a light shielding region that surrounds the periphery of the image display region in a frame shape is provided on the viewer side substrate, and the end of the retardation layer is disposed in the light shielding region, or the end of the retardation layer is optically There is a configuration of covering with a black resin or the like having a high absorption rate. Of course, when these two configurations are combined, the end portion of the retardation layer and the frame-shaped light shielding region are arranged so as to overlap in a plane, and the end portion is covered with a light shielding layer made of black resin or the like. More effective. Further, if a light shielding layer made of a black resin or the like is formed so that a part of the flat portion extends beyond the end portion of the retardation layer, the tapered portion can be completely covered with the light shielding layer. The resin that covers the edge of the retardation layer is positioned inside the frame-shaped light shielding region and is configured not to protrude outside the light shielding region. This is to prevent distortion in the frame of the image display area.

  In addition, the pixel includes a pixel electrode, a switching element connected to the pixel electrode, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode. Both the common electrodes are formed.

  In the second liquid crystal device, both the pixel electrode and the common electrode are formed on one of the pair of substrates, and the horizontal or oblique electric field is formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Although it can be suitably used for a liquid crystal device such as a so-called fringe field switching (hereinafter referred to as FFS (Fringe Field Switching)) method or an in-plane switching (hereinafter referred to as IPS (In-Plane Switching)) method for driving a liquid crystal, You may use for the liquid crystal device of other systems, such as a TN (twisted nematic) system, a vertical alignment system, and an OCB system.

  In addition, the configuration of the present invention can be applied to any liquid crystal device in which a retardation layer is formed on the inner surface between substrates, regardless of transmission type, reflection type, or transflective type. In the case of the transflective type, since the optical design is different between the reflective display area and the transmissive display area, it is necessary to selectively form a retardation layer in the reflective display area or the transmissive display area. Therefore, it is highly necessary to form a retardation layer on the inner surface, and is therefore suitable for application of the present invention.

  The first and second liquid crystal devices described above are used as a display unit of an electronic device such as a mobile phone or a mobile computer.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, in order to make it easy to understand the correspondence with the configuration shown in FIG. In the drawings referred to in the following description, the scales are different for each layer and each member so that each layer and each member have a size that can be recognized on the drawing.

(overall structure)
FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view of a liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from the counter substrate side, together with each component formed thereon, and a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line HH ′. is there.

  1A and 1B, a liquid crystal display device 100 of this embodiment is a transflective active matrix liquid crystal display device, and a sealing material 107 is provided on a counter substrate on an element substrate 10. It is provided along 20 edges. In the element substrate 10, the data line driving circuit 101 and the mounting terminals 102 are provided along one side of the element substrate 10 in a region outside the sealant 107, and 2 adjacent to the side where the mounting terminals 102 are arranged. A scanning line driving circuit 104 is formed along the side. The counter substrate 20 has substantially the same contour as the sealing material 107, and the counter substrate 20 is fixed to the element substrate 10 by the sealing material 107. A liquid crystal layer 50 is held between the element substrate 10 and the counter substrate 20.

  As will be described in detail later, pixel electrodes 7 a are formed in a matrix on the element substrate 10. On the other hand, a frame-shaped light shielding region 23a made of a light shielding material is formed in the inner region of the sealing material 107 on the counter substrate 20, and the inner side is an image display region 10a. In the counter substrate 20, a light shielding layer 23 b called a black matrix or a black stripe is formed in a region facing the vertical and horizontal pixel boundary regions of the pixel electrode 7 a of the element substrate 10.

  The liquid crystal display device 100 of this embodiment drives the liquid crystal layer 50 in the FFS mode. For this reason, in addition to the pixel electrode 7a, a common electrode (not shown in FIG. 1B) described later is also formed on the element substrate 10, and a counter electrode is formed on the counter substrate 20. Not. In the liquid crystal display device 100, a polarizing plate (not shown) is arranged on each of the element substrate 10 side and the counter substrate 20 side, and a backlight device (not shown) is arranged on the element substrate 10 side. ing.

(Detailed configuration of the liquid crystal display device 100)
FIG. 2 is an equivalent circuit diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image display region 10a of the element substrate 10 used in the liquid crystal display device 100 to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of pixels 100 a are formed in a matrix in the image display area 10 a of the liquid crystal display device 100. In each of the plurality of pixels 100a, a pixel electrode 7a and a thin film transistor 30 as a pixel switching element for controlling the pixel electrode 7a are formed, and a data line 5a that supplies a data signal (image signal) in a line sequential manner. Is electrically connected to the source of the thin film transistor 30. The scanning line 3a is electrically connected to the gate of the thin film transistor 30, and the scanning signal is applied to the scanning line 3a in a line sequential manner at a predetermined timing. The pixel electrode 7a is electrically connected to the drain of the thin film transistor 30, and by turning on the thin film transistor 30 for a certain period, a data signal supplied from the data line 5a is sent to each pixel 100a at a predetermined timing. Write. The pixel signal of a predetermined level written in the liquid crystal layer 50 shown in FIG. 1B through the pixel electrode 7a in this way is held for a certain period with the common electrode 9a formed on the element substrate 10. The Here, a storage capacitor 60 is formed between the pixel electrode 7a and the common electrode 9a, and the voltage of the pixel electrode 7a is held, for example, for a time that is three orders of magnitude longer than the time when the source voltage is applied. The Thereby, the charge retention characteristic is improved, and the liquid crystal display device 100 capable of performing display with a high contrast ratio can be realized.

  In FIG. 2, the common electrode 9 a is shown as a wiring extending from the scanning line driving circuit 104, but it is formed on substantially the entire surface of the image display region 10 a of the element substrate 10 and is held at a predetermined potential.

(Configuration of pixel array area)
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a planar configuration of an end portion on the scanning line driving circuit 104 side in the pixel array region of the liquid crystal display device 100 to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 3, in the liquid crystal display device 100, a plurality of pixels 100a are arranged in a matrix, and a region where these pixels 100a are arranged is a pixel arrangement region 10b. In the pixel array region 10b, the pixel 100a at the end is a dummy pixel 100x that is not used for display, and the dummy pixel 100x is the light shielding described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b). It is in a state covered with the region 23a (frame). Therefore, in the pixel array area 10b, the area excluding the dummy pixels 100x is used as the image display area 10a, and the area where the dummy pixels 100x are formed (dummy pixel area 10x) contributes directly to the display. There is no.

(Configuration of each pixel)
4A and 4B are a cross-sectional view of one pixel of the liquid crystal display device 100 to which the present invention is applied and a plan view of adjacent pixels in the element substrate 10, respectively. a) corresponds to a cross-sectional view when the liquid crystal display device 100 is cut at a position corresponding to the line AA ′ in FIG. In FIG. 4B, the pixel electrode 7a is indicated by a long dotted line, the data line 5a and a thin film formed at the same time are indicated by a one-dot chain line, the scanning line 3a is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and a part of the common electrode 9a. The removed part is indicated by a solid line.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, on the element substrate 10, a plurality of transparent pixel electrodes 7a are formed in a matrix for each pixel 100a, and vertical and horizontal pixel boundaries of the pixel electrode 7a. Data lines 5a and scanning lines 3a are formed along the regions 10e and 10f. A common electrode 9a made of an ITO film is formed on substantially the entire surface of the image display region 10a of the element substrate 10. In this embodiment, the common electrode 9a is solid, while the pixel electrode 7a has a plurality of slit-like openings 7b (shown by long dotted lines). In this embodiment, the plurality of slit-like openings 7b are formed obliquely in the extending direction of the scanning line 3a, and the plurality of slit-like openings 7b extend in parallel. The slit-shaped opening 7b may be formed in a bent shape in the middle, or may be formed of a slit group having an opposite inclination direction.

  4A includes a light-transmitting substrate 10c such as a quartz substrate or a heat-resistant glass substrate, and the substrate of the counter substrate 20 includes a transparent substrate such as a quartz substrate or a heat-resistant glass substrate. It consists of the optical substrate 20b. In this embodiment, a glass substrate is used for both of the translucent substrates 10c and 20b.

  4A and 4B again, the element substrate 10 has a base protective film (not shown) made of a silicon oxide film or the like formed on the surface of the light-transmitting substrate 10c. On the surface side, a thin film transistor 30 having a top gate structure is formed at a position adjacent to each pixel electrode 7a. The thin film transistor 30 has a structure in which a channel formation region 1b, a source region 1c, and a drain region 1d are formed on an island-shaped semiconductor film 1a, and an LDD having low concentration regions on both sides of the channel formation region 1b. It may be formed to have a (Lightly Doped Drain) structure. In this embodiment, the semiconductor film 1a is a polysilicon film that has been polycrystallized by laser annealing or lamp annealing after an amorphous silicon film is formed on the element substrate 10.

  A gate insulating film 2 made of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, or a laminated film thereof is formed on the semiconductor film 1a. A part of the scanning line 3a is used as a gate electrode on the gate insulating film 2. overlapping. In this embodiment, the semiconductor film 1a is bent in a U shape, and has a twin gate structure in which gate electrodes are formed at two locations in the channel direction.

  Over the gate electrode (scanning line 3a), an interlayer insulating film 4 made of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, or a laminated film thereof is formed. A data line 5a is formed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film 4, and the data line 5a is electrically connected to a source region located closest to the data line 5a through a contact hole 4a formed in the interlayer insulating film 4. is doing. A drain electrode 5b is formed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film 4, and the drain electrode 5b is a conductive film formed simultaneously with the data line 5a. The drain electrode 5 b is electrically connected to the drain region 1 d through a contact hole 4 b formed in the interlayer insulating film 4.

  An interlayer insulating film 6 as a photosensitive resin layer is formed on the upper side of the data line 5a and the drain electrode 5b. In this embodiment, the interlayer insulating film 6 is made of a thick photosensitive resin having a thickness of 1.5 μm to 2.0 μm.

  On the surface of the interlayer insulating film 6, a common electrode 9a as a lower electrode layer is formed of a solid ITO film over the entire surface. An interelectrode insulating film 8 is formed on the surface of the common electrode 97a. In this embodiment, the interelectrode insulating film 8 is made of a silicon oxide film or a silicon nitride film having a thickness of 400 nm or less. A pixel electrode 7a as an upper electrode layer is formed of an ITO film on the interelectrode insulating film 8, and an alignment film 16 is formed on the surface side of the pixel electrode 7a. The pixel electrode 7a has the slit-shaped opening 7b described above. In the state configured as described above, the common electrode 9a and the pixel electrode 7a face each other with the interelectrode insulating film 8 interposed therebetween, and the storage capacitor 60 using the interelectrode insulating film 8 as a dielectric film is formed. In this embodiment, the pixel electrode 7 a is electrically connected to the drain electrode 6 b through a contact hole 6 a formed in the interlayer insulating film 6. For this reason, a rectangular notch 9d is formed in the common electrode 9a in the portion where the contact hole 6a is formed. An alignment film 16 is formed on the surface side of the pixel electrode 7a. In the element substrate 10 configured as described above, the liquid crystal layer 50 is driven in the slit-shaped opening 7b and its periphery by a lateral electric field formed between the pixel electrode 7a and the common electrode 9a.

  In the counter substrate 20, a light shielding layer 23b is formed on the inner surface (the surface on the side where the liquid crystal layer 50 is located) of the translucent substrate 20b so as to face the pixel boundary regions 10e and 10f, and is surrounded by the light shielding layer 23b. A color filter 22 for each color is formed in the region. The light shielding layer 23 b and the color filter 22 are covered with an insulating protective film 24. An alignment film 26 is formed on the surface side of the insulating protective film 24.

(Detailed configuration of each pixel)
The liquid crystal display device 100 of this embodiment is a transflective type, and each of the plurality of pixels 100a includes a transmissive display region 100t that displays an image in a transmissive mode and a reflective display region 100r that displays an image in a reflective mode. Yes. Therefore, the interlayer insulating film 6 is made of a photosensitive resin having irregularities 6c in a region corresponding to the reflective display region 100r, and functions as a planarizing film for the transmissive display region 100t, the formation region of the thin film transistor 30, and the like. Plays. The unevenness 6c of the interlayer insulating film 6 can be formed, for example, by flowing the photosensitive resin when baking it after half exposure and development of the photosensitive resin. Further, a photosensitive resin layer (interlayer insulating film 6) having unevenness 6c is also formed by further applying a photosensitive resin layer on the upper layer side of the photosensitive resin exposed and developed so as to correspond to the unevenness. be able to.

  Among the upper layers of the interlayer insulating film 6, a light reflecting layer 11a made of aluminum, silver, or an alloy thereof is formed in the reflective display region 100r, and the common electrode 9a and the interelectrode insulating film 8 are formed on the upper layer side. And the pixel electrode 7a is formed. Here, the unevenness 6c of the interlayer insulating film 6 is reflected in the light reflecting layer 11a, thereby imparting light scattering properties.

  In the liquid crystal display device 100 configured as described above, the backlight light emitted from the backlight device (not shown) passes through the transmissive display region 100t and is emitted as display light from the counter substrate 20 side. The light is modulated by the liquid crystal layer 50 and emitted as display light. In addition, external light that has entered the reflective display region 100r from the counter substrate 20 side is reflected by the light reflecting layer 11a, is emitted as display light from the counter substrate 20 side, and is light-modulated by the liquid crystal layer 50 between them. Is emitted. Therefore, the length of the path followed by light differs between the transmission mode and the reflection mode.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the phase difference layer 27 made of liquid crystal polymer is formed on the surface of the insulating protective film 24 in the reflective display region 100r on the surface on the side where the inner surface (liquid crystal layer 50) of the counter substrate 20 is located. The alignment film 26 is formed on the surface side of the retardation layer 27. For this reason, even when the length of the path | route which light follows differs in transmission mode and reflection mode, both retardation can be made to correspond. Here, the phase difference layer 27 is a layer formed by a method such as applying a liquid crystal polymer, and the end portion 27c is a wide tapered portion 27a having a width dimension of about 8 μm. Since the light transmitted through the tapered portion 27a is emitted without being suitably modulated, the display quality is lowered.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the reflective display region 100r (retardation layer 27) is provided, the reflective display region 100r (retardation layer 27) is shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Is a pixel boundary located every other pixel boundary region 10f extending in one direction (the direction in which the scanning line 3a extends) in the other direction (direction in which the data line 5a extends) intersecting the one direction. A band shape is set in one direction across the pixels 100a on both sides of the region 10f. That is, the reflective display region 100r (phase difference layer 27) is formed so as to straddle the pixels 100a on both sides of the plurality of scanning lines 3a sandwiching the scanning line 3a located every other line, and along the scanning line 3a. It extends in a band shape. Accordingly, one pixel 100a has only one end portion 27c (tapered portion 27a) in the width direction of the retardation layer 27.

  An end portion 27c in the width direction of the retardation layer 27 overlaps the light shielding region 23a described in FIG. Although not shown, a black resin is pasted along the end 27c in the width direction of the retardation layer 27. The black resin is formed so that a part of the black resin covers the flat part of the retardation layer 27 beyond the taper part 27a so that the taper part 27a is completely covered with the black resin. Further, the black resin is formed so as not to protrude from the light shielding region 23a in plan view.

  Further, an end portion 27d (tapered portion 27a) in the longitudinal direction of the retardation layer 27 (one direction / direction in which the scanning line 3a extends) passes outside the image display region 10a and further passes through the dummy pixel region 10x. It is located outside the pixel array area 10b. Therefore, since the end portion 27d in the longitudinal direction of the retardation layer 27 is not located at the pixel 100a located at the end portion of the image display region 10a, the retardation layer 27 is also disposed in the pixel 100a as in the other pixels 100a. There are only one 27 end portions 27c (tapered portions 27a) in the width direction.

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the liquid crystal display device 100 of the present embodiment, the retardation layer 27 in the reflective display region 100r is one of the pixel boundary regions 10f extending in one direction (the extending direction of the scanning line 3a). In the other direction crossing the direction (the extending direction of the data line 5a), it is formed in a strip shape in one direction across the pixels 100a on both sides sandwiching every other pixel boundary region 10f. Accordingly, one pixel 100a has only one end portion 27c (tapered portion 27a) in the width direction of the retardation layer 27. Further, an end portion 27d (tapered portion 27a) in the longitudinal direction of the retardation layer 27 (one direction / direction in which the scanning line 3a extends) passes outside the image display region 10a and further passes through the dummy pixel region 10x. Since the pixel 100a is located at the end of the image display region 10a, there is one end 27c (taper 27a) in the width direction of the retardation layer 27 because it is located outside the pixel array region 10b. Only. Therefore, in any pixel 100a, the end portions 27c and 27d (tapered portion 27a) of the retardation layer 27 are present at a minimum, so that even when an image is displayed in the reflection mode, a sufficient amount of display light is obtained. In addition to displaying an image, it is possible to improve the quality of the displayed image, such as displaying a high-contrast image.

[Other embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the FFS liquid crystal display device 100 as a type using a lateral electric field has been described. However, the present invention is applicable to any liquid crystal device in which a retardation layer is formed on the inner surface. Is possible. For example, the present invention may be applied to an IPS liquid crystal display device in which a pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed in a comb-teeth shape on an element substrate. Besides, a TN method, a vertical alignment method, an OCB method, etc. Applicable to liquid crystal devices. Furthermore, the present invention may be applied to a liquid crystal display device in which the retardation layer 27 is formed on the element substrate 10 side.

  In the above embodiment, the polysilicon film is used as the semiconductor film. However, the present invention may be applied to the element substrate 10 using an amorphous silicon film or a single crystal silicon layer. Further, the present invention may be applied to a liquid crystal display device using a thin film diode element (nonlinear element) as a pixel switching element.

  In the above embodiment, the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the retardation layer is positioned outside the dummy pixel region. However, the end portion of the retardation layer is positioned outside the image display region without providing the dummy pixel. It is also possible to adopt a configuration or a configuration in which the end portion of the retardation layer is positioned on the dummy pixel.

[Example of mounting on electronic devices]
Next, an electronic apparatus to which the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the above-described embodiment is applied will be described. FIG. 5A shows a configuration of a mobile personal computer including the liquid crystal display device 100. The personal computer 2000 includes a liquid crystal display device 100 as a display unit and a main body 2010. The main body 2010 is provided with a power switch 2001 and a keyboard 2002. FIG. 5B shows a configuration of a mobile phone provided with the liquid crystal display device 100. A cellular phone 3000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 3001, scroll buttons 3002, and the liquid crystal display device 100 as a display unit. By operating the scroll button 3002, the screen displayed on the liquid crystal display device 100 is scrolled. FIG. 5C shows a configuration of a personal digital assistant (PDA) to which the liquid crystal display device 100 is applied. The information portable terminal 4000 includes a plurality of operation buttons 4001, a power switch 4002, and the liquid crystal display device 100 as a display unit. When the power switch 4002 is operated, various kinds of information such as an address book and a schedule book are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 100.

  The electronic apparatus to which the liquid crystal display device 100 is applied includes, in addition to those shown in FIG. 5, a digital still camera, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type, a monitor direct view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, a pager, an electronic notebook, Examples include calculators, word processors, workstations, videophones, POS terminals, devices with touch panels, and the like. And the liquid crystal display device 100 mentioned above is applicable as a display part of these various electronic devices.

(A), (b) is the top view which looked at the liquid crystal display device to which this invention was applied from the opposite substrate side with each component formed on it, and its H-H 'sectional drawing. The equivalent circuit diagram which shows the electrical constitution of the image display area | region of the element substrate used for the liquid crystal display device to which this invention is applied. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a planar configuration of an end portion on the scanning line driving circuit side of a pixel array region of a liquid crystal display device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. (A), (b) is sectional drawing for one pixel of the liquid crystal display device to which this invention is applied, respectively, and the top view of the pixel which adjoins in an element substrate. Explanatory drawing of the electronic device using the liquid crystal display device which concerns on this invention. (A), (b) is sectional drawing for one pixel of the conventional liquid crystal display device, respectively, and the top view of the pixel which adjoins in an element substrate.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a ... Semiconductor film, 3a ... Scan line, 6 ... Interlayer insulation film as photosensitive resin layer, 5a ... Data line, 7a ... Pixel electrode, 7b ... Slit-like opening part, 8 ... Interelectrode insulation film, 9a ... Common Electrode, 10 ... Element substrate, 10a ... Image display area, 10b ... Pixel array area, 10x ... Dummy pixel area, 11a ... Light reflecting layer, 20 ... Opposite substrate, 27 ... Phase difference layer, 27a ... Tapered portion of phase difference layer 27c, 27d ... end of retardation layer, 50 ... liquid crystal layer, 30 ... thin film transistor as pixel switching element, 100 ... liquid crystal display device, 100a ... pixel, 100r ... reflective display region, 100t ... transmissive display region, 100x ... Dummy pixel.

Claims (16)

In a liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates,
A plurality of pixels each including a transmissive display area and a reflective display area;
A phase difference layer disposed on the inner surface side of the pair of substrates and disposed at a position overlapping at least the reflective display region,
The retardation layer is formed across the reflective display area of at least two adjacent pixels of the plurality of pixels, and a first end portion is one of the two adjacent pixels. A liquid crystal device characterized in that a second end portion that is located within and opposite to the first end portion is located within the other pixel.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein an end portion of the retardation layer has a tapered shape.   2. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the two adjacent pixels are arranged such that respective reflective display areas face each other across a pixel boundary area extending in a first direction.   The plurality of pixels include a plurality of pixels arranged side by side along the first direction, and the retardation layer is formed across the plurality of pixels. LCD device.   The third end portion intersecting with the first end portion or the second end portion of the retardation layer is located outside the plurality of pixels. Liquid crystal device.   The plurality of pixels include display pixels arranged in an image display area and dummy pixels arranged outside the image display area, and the third end is located outside the dummy pixels. The liquid crystal device according to claim 5, wherein   The liquid crystal device according to claim 6, further comprising a light shielding region overlapping the third end portion. The pixel includes a pixel electrode, a switching element connected to the pixel electrode, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode,
The switching element is connected to a scanning line and a signal line;
4. The liquid crystal device according to claim 3, wherein one of the scanning line and the signal line is formed in the pixel boundary region extending in the first direction.     The liquid crystal device according to claim 8, wherein both the pixel electrode and the common electrode are formed on one of the pair of substrates. In a liquid crystal device in which a liquid crystal layer is held between a pair of substrates,
A plurality of pixels;
A phase difference layer disposed on the inner surface side of the pair of substrates, at least in a position overlapping with the pixels,
The liquid crystal device, wherein the retardation layer is disposed across the plurality of pixels, and an end thereof is located outside the plurality of pixels.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 10, wherein an end portion of the retardation layer has a tapered shape.   The plurality of pixels include a display pixel arranged in an image display area and a dummy pixel arranged outside the image display area, and the end portion is located outside the dummy pixel. The liquid crystal device according to claim 11.   The liquid crystal device according to claim 11, further comprising a light shielding layer overlapping the end portion.   14. The liquid crystal according to claim 13, wherein the retardation layer has a flat portion connected to the tapered end portion, and at least a part of the light shielding layer is provided on the flat portion. apparatus. The pixel includes a pixel electrode, a switching element connected to the pixel electrode, and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 12, wherein both the pixel electrode and the common electrode are formed on one of the pair of substrates.   An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to claim 1.

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