JP2008015061A - Transflective liquid crystal display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a transflective liquid crystal display panel in which reflection optical characteristics in a sacrifice area is made equal to the reflection optical characteristics of a display area. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display panel 10 has: an array substrate 11 provided with the display area 14 wherein pixel electrodes 26 are formed in respective regions enclosed by a plurality of signal lines and scanning lines which are disposed in a matrix shape, a counter substrate 12 having a counter electrode 31; a liquid crystal layer encapsulated between the array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 whose peripheral edge part is sealed by using a seal material 35; and a plurality of columnar spacers 39a and 39b provided between the array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 on a light transmissible substrate. In the liquid crystal display panel 10, a reflection part (the sacrifice area) 34 for decoration provided with a reflection plate 37 is formed on the periphery of the display area 14 of the array substrate 11 and the reflection optical characteristics of the reflection part 34 for decoration and the reflection optical characteristics of the display area 14 are made equal to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display panel, and in particular, includes a columnar spacer (also referred to as a “rib”) for maintaining a cell gap, and a reflective part for decoration for improving the appearance around the display area. The present invention relates to a transflective liquid crystal display panel provided with a (partially closed area), the reflective optical characteristic of which is equal to the reflective optical characteristic of the display area.

  In recent years, the application of liquid crystal display panels has rapidly spread not only in information communication equipment but also in general electric equipment. Since the liquid crystal display panel does not emit light by itself, a transmissive liquid crystal display panel having a backlight is often used.

  However, since the power consumption of the backlight is large, a reflective liquid crystal display panel that does not require a backlight is used to reduce power consumption, particularly for portable devices. Since the panel uses outside light as a light source, it is difficult to see in a dark room. Therefore, in recent years, development of a transflective liquid crystal display panel having both functions of a transmissive type and a reflective type has been advanced.

  This transflective liquid crystal display panel has a transmissive portion having a pixel electrode and a reflective portion having both a pixel electrode and a reflective electrode in one pixel region, and the backlight is turned on in a dark place. Since the image is displayed using the transmissive part of the pixel area and the image is displayed using the external light in the reflective part without turning on the backlight in bright places, it is necessary to always turn on the backlight. Therefore, the power consumption can be greatly reduced.

  Here, a specific example of a conventional transflective liquid crystal display panel will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is a schematic plan view of a conventional single-terminal transflective liquid crystal display panel, FIG. 7 is a plan view of several pixels of the array substrate of FIG. 6, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 7. In FIG. 6, the non-display area around the display area is exaggerated for the understanding of the present invention, and in FIG. 6, the position corresponding to the reflective portion provided on the counter substrate 12. The top coat layer is also shown. A display region in this specification is a planar region in which a pixel electrode is formed and a liquid crystal layer (liquid crystal molecule) is orientation controlled by an electric field applied to the pixel electrode. A pixel region is not formed, and it refers to a planar region in which the alignment is not controlled by an electric field even when a liquid crystal layer is present.

A conventional transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A includes an array substrate 11 and a counter substrate 12 that face each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The array substrate 11 is formed such that a plurality of scanning lines 17 made of a metal such as aluminum or molybdenum are parallel to the display area 14 on the transparent substrate 13 made of, for example, a glass plate, and are parallel to each other. line 17 is connected to a driver circuit arrangement 16 provided around the frame region 15 of the scanning lines 17 ₁ Thus display area 14, also parallel to the scanning line 17 substantially in the center between the scan adjacent lines 17 The auxiliary capacitance line 18 is formed so that the gate electrode G of the TFT extends from the scanning line 17. In addition, although common wiring is further provided on the transparent substrate 13, it is not illustrated.

A gate insulating film 19 made of silicon nitride, silicon oxide, or the like is laminated on the entire surface of the transparent substrate 13 so as to cover the scanning lines 17, the auxiliary capacitance lines 18, and the gate electrode G. A semiconductor layer 20 made of amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon or the like is formed via 19, and a plurality of signal lines 21 made of a metal such as aluminum or molybdenum are orthogonal to the scanning line 17 on the gate insulating film 19. together are formed as a plurality of signal lines 21 are also connected to the driver circuit placement portion 16 by the signal line wiring 21 _1. Further, the source electrode S of the TFT is extended from the signal line 21 so as to be in contact with the semiconductor layer 20, and the drain electrode D is also in contact with the semiconductor layer 20 with the same material as the signal line 21 and the source electrode S. Thus, it is provided on the gate insulating film 19.

  Here, a region surrounded by the scanning lines 17 and the signal lines 21 corresponds to one pixel. The gate electrode G, the gate insulating film 19, the semiconductor layer 20, the source electrode S, and the drain electrode D constitute a TFT serving as a switching element, and this TFT is formed in each pixel. In this case, the storage capacitor of each pixel is formed by the drain electrode D and the storage capacitor line 18.

  A protective insulating film (also referred to as a passivation film) 22 made of, for example, an inorganic insulating material is laminated over the entire surface of the transparent substrate 13 so as to cover the signal lines 21, the TFTs, and the gate insulating film 19, and on the protective insulating film 22. An interlayer film 23 (also referred to as a planarizing film) made of an organic insulating film is laminated over the entire transparent substrate 13. A contact hole 24 is formed in the protective insulating film 22 and the interlayer film 23 at a position corresponding to the drain electrode D of the TFT. Further, in each pixel, a reflective plate 27 made of, for example, aluminum metal is partially formed on the TFT and auxiliary capacitance line 18 side. For example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is formed on the surfaces of the reflective plate 27, the contact hole 24 and the interlayer film 23. ) To IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide) pixel electrode 26 is formed, and an alignment film (not shown) is laminated on the surface of the pixel electrode 26 so as to cover all pixels.

  Further, the counter substrate 12 is provided on the surface of the transparent substrate 28 made of a separate glass plate at a position corresponding to at least the display region 14 of the array substrate 11, for example, red (R), green (G ), A color filter layer 29 made of blue (B) is provided, and at least a region of the surface of the color filter layer 29 where the reflection plate 27 of the array substrate 11 is provided, that is, a position corresponding to the reflection portion. A top coat layer 30 is laminated, and a counter electrode 31 and an alignment film (not shown) are laminated on the surfaces of the top coat layer 30 and the color filter layer 29. The topcoat layer 30 is such that the distance (cell gap) between the pixel electrode 26 and the counter electrode 31 in the reflective portion is about ½ of the cell gap in the transmissive portion where the reflective plate 27 is not provided. It is provided so that the color tone in the reflection portion and the color tone in the transmission portion are equal. In addition, as the color filter layer 29, color filter layers such as cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) may be used in appropriate combinations. In the case of monochrome display, the color filter layer may be used. May not be provided.

  In the conventional transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A, as disclosed in the following Patent Documents 1 and 2, a columnar spacer 39 made of a photoresist is provided to keep the cell gap constant. Yes. The position where the columnar spacer 39 is disposed is the side where the reflecting plate 27 with little optical influence is provided even if the columnar spacer 39 is partially visible, or the columnar spacer 39 itself is optically arranged. In order not to contribute to image display, it is provided in a light shielding portion outside the display area. Further, a rib receiving portion 40 serving as a base for receiving the columnar spacer 39 is formed on one substrate side, and this rib receiving portion 40 reduces the amount of overlay deviation in manufacturing the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A. Considering this, the size of the columnar spacer 39 is made slightly larger than the tip, and the surface is flattened in order to obtain a uniform cell gap.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, the columnar spacer 39 and the rib receiving portion 40 are each pixel configured by a color filter layer of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) included in one pixel. Corresponding to the signal line 21 between the red (R) and the blue (B), that is, the position excluding the side edge of the sub-pixel formed by the green (G) color filter layer having particularly high visibility. It is provided only at the position to be. Since the signal line 21 is made of a metal such as aluminum / molybdenum, it has a light shielding property, and a black matrix 41 is disposed on the counter substrate 12 at a position facing the signal line 21. (See FIG. 9), the columnar spacer 39 and the rib receiving portion 40 are substantially provided in the light shielding portion along the outer periphery of the pixel other than the green (G) sub-pixel.

  Then, the array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 obtained as described above are opposed to each other, the periphery is sealed with a sealing material 35, and the common wiring of the array substrate 11 and the counter electrode of the counter substrate 12 are transferred electrodes (not shown). And a liquid crystal injection hole (not shown) between the two substrates, and then the liquid crystal injection hole is sealed to thereby seal a predetermined transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A. Is obtained. At this time, since the tip of the columnar spacer 39 is wider than the width of the signal line 21, the flat rib receiving portion 40 extends to the area of the reflecting plate 27, but is positioned in the flat rib receiving portion 40. Even if the surface of the reflection plate 27 does not substantially function as a reflection plate, there is a slight misalignment in manufacturing the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A by bonding the array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 together. In addition, by absorbing this misalignment, the tip of the columnar spacer 39 can be accurately positioned on the flat rib receiving portion 40.

  In this transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A, a backlight device (not shown) is arranged on the array substrate 11 side, so that a predetermined image is displayed by the light that is turned on and transmitted through the liquid crystal display panel 10A in a dark place. In a bright place, a predetermined image is displayed using reflected light from outside light without turning on the backlight. If a reflection plate is provided on the entire surface of the pixel electrode 26, a reflective liquid crystal display panel is provided. Is obtained. In such a transflective liquid crystal display panel or a reflective liquid crystal display panel, the reflective plate 27 may be provided on the surface of the pixel electrode 26, and the reflection efficiency at the reflection portion is improved and the white color is good. In order to enable display, it is common practice to provide a concavo-convex shape on the surface of the interlayer film 23 where the reflector 27 is provided in order to make the reflected light diffusely reflected. .

  The conventional transflective liquid crystal display panel as described above has a non-display area around the display area covered with a light-shielding black mask and an outer cover so that only the display area can be visually recognized by an observer. ing. For example, in the conventional transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A shown in FIG. 6, at least a hatched portion shows a non-display area 33 covered with a black mask and an exterior cover, and only the display area 14 is an observer. It is made visible from.

  However, in recent years, in order to improve the appearance, a liquid crystal display in which a reflection part that reflects external light is formed in a non-display area around the display area and the non-display area in which the reflection part is formed is used for decoration. Panels have come to be used. As shown in FIG. 10, the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B using the non-display area in which such a reflective portion is formed as a decoration is non-display covered with a black mask and an exterior cover in the non-display area. The region 33 cannot be visually recognized by the observer, but the portion of the non-display region 34 in which the reflective portion is formed can be visually recognized by the observer. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B using a non-display area in which a reflecting portion is formed as a decoration. In this case as well, the non-display area around the display area is exaggerated. It is drawn. In FIG. 10, the same components as those of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A shown in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the following description, the portion of the non-display area 34 in which the reflection part used for decoration is formed will be expressed as “parting area” and the same reference numeral “34” will be given. .

A longitudinal section of the frame region 15 along the line CC of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B having such a parting region 34 is as shown in FIG. In the frame region 15 here is, on the surface of the array substrate 11 side of the transparent substrate 13 is ₁ and the common wiring 42 and the like a plurality of scanning lines 17 are formed, the scanning lines 17 ₁ and the common wiring 42, etc. Is covered with the gate insulating film 19 and the protective insulating film 22, and in the parting region 34, the surface of the protective insulating film 22 is covered with the interlayer film 23, and the cell gap at the periphery is constant at an appropriate interval. Columnar spacers 39b for maintaining the outer periphery of the array substrate 11 and the peripheral portion of the array substrate 11 and the counter substrate 12 are sealed with a sealing material 35.

  Among these, the region where the black mask 36 is provided on the counter substrate 12 forms a non-display region 33, and the parting region 34 is formed between the non-display region 33 and the display region 14. In the parting region 34, irregularities are formed on the surface of the interlayer film 23, a reflector 37 made of, for example, aluminum metal is formed on the surface of the interlayer film 23 in the irregular state, and further, ITO or IZO is formed on the surface. A transparent electrode 38 is formed, and the surfaces of both the reflector 37 and the transparent electrode 38 are uneven. The reflecting plate 37 and the transparent electrode 38 are arranged at the same pitch as the reflecting plate 37 and the pixel electrode 26 in the display area 14 as shown in FIG. 12 in view of the conventional manufacturing process of the dummy electrode for electrostatic protection. The reflection plate 37 and the transparent electrode 38 are separated in a laminated state, and the reflection plate 37 and the transparent electrode 38 are not connected to any part of the electrical connection and are in a floating state. The counter substrate 12 is formed with a topcoat layer 30b for adjusting the cell gap of the parting region 34, and around each pixel electrode 26 in the display region 14 of the array substrate 11 and each parting region 34. A black matrix is formed so as to shield the position corresponding to the periphery of the transparent electrode 38, but it is not shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic partial enlarged view of the upper left side of the array substrate of the liquid crystal display panel 10B of FIG.

  Since the parting region 34 does not include a pixel electrode, the alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules does not change, but the viewer has the same color as the color filter layer provided on the counter substrate 12 corresponding to the parting region 34. In general, since a color filter layer similar to the color filter layer formed in the display area 14 is also formed in the parting area 34, it looks substantially white. In order to make this parting region 34 appear in a good white state, it is necessary to adopt a reflective display structure that is substantially the same as the reflective portion of the display region, such as a reflective liquid crystal display panel or a transflective liquid crystal display panel. Therefore, an uneven shape is provided on the surface of the underlying interlayer film of the reflector.

Patent Document 3 listed below discloses a display area for the purpose of reducing display defects based on the nonuniformity of the cell gap occurring near the boundary between the display area and the non-display area in a reflective or transflective liquid crystal display panel. Is disclosed in which a concave and convex shape provided on the surface of the interlayer film of the reflective portion is also provided in the non-display area, but there is no description regarding a part of the non-display area as a parting area as described above .
JP 2002-72220 A JP 2004-226612 A JP 2003-228049 A (claims, paragraphs [0002] to [0012], [0040] to [0097], FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, FIG. 16)

  In the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B having the parting area 34 as described above, the display state of the parting area 34 does not change, but an aesthetic decoration effect that always appears white around the display area 14 can be given, so that it looks good. Will be very good. However, according to the detailed examination result by the present inventors, in the conventional liquid crystal display panel 10B having the above-described parting area 34, the parting area 34 is displayed during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 26 of the display area 14. It was found that there was a difference in color tone between.

  The inventors have generated a difference in color tone from the parting area 34 in white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 26 of the display area 14 in the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B having such parting area 34. As a result of various examinations about the above, it was found that the cause was based on the following causes.

  That is, in the display area 14, the cell gap of the reflection part is set to be about ½ of the cell gap of the transmission part so that the color tone of the transmission part and the color tone of the reflection part are the same. In addition, the columnar spacers (not shown) provided in the display region 14 and the columnar spacers 39b provided in the parting region 34 are manufactured simultaneously using a photoresist, and therefore should be originally formed at the same height. It was thought. However, the configuration of the counter substrate 12 is different between the reflective portion and the transmissive portion in the region corresponding to the display region 14, but substantially the same configuration in the region corresponding to the parting region 34. Yes. For this reason, when the columnar spacer-forming photoresist is applied by spin coating so as to have a uniform thickness, the area corresponding to the display area 14 and the area corresponding to the parting area 34 are different in height. The columnar spacers provided in the region 14 and the columnar spacers provided in the parting region 34 have different heights, so that the cell gap is different between the region corresponding to the display region 14 and the region corresponding to the parting region 34. I found out that this is the main cause.

  The inventors have made various studies to eliminate the difference in color tone from the parting area 34 during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 26 of the display area 14 based on the cause. By making the configuration of the corresponding counter substrate 12 equivalent to the configuration of the display area 14, the reflective optical characteristics in the parting area can be made equal to the reflective optical characteristics of the display area, and all the above problems are solved. The present inventors have found out what can be done and have completed the present invention.

  That is, according to the present invention, in a transflective liquid crystal display panel having a parting area around the display area, a color difference between the parting area and the parting area does not occur during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode of the display area. An object is to provide a transmissive liquid crystal display panel.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention is as follows:
A plurality of signal lines and scanning lines arranged in a matrix are provided on a translucent substrate, and an insulating film is covered over the entire surface, and is surrounded by the plurality of signal lines and scanning lines. In addition, an array substrate having a display region in which a pixel electrode is formed in each region on the insulating film, and a reflective plate is partially formed on a front surface or a back surface of the pixel electrode;
A counter substrate having a color filter layer and a counter electrode;
A peripheral portion of the array substrate and the counter substrate is sealed with a sealing material, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between both substrates;
A plurality of columnar spacers provided between the array substrate and the counter substrate;
In a transflective liquid crystal display panel having
Around the display area of the array substrate is formed a decorative reflecting portion having a reflecting plate, and the peripheral portion of the decorative reflecting portion is sealed by the sealing material,
The reflective optical characteristic of the decorative reflecting portion is the same as the reflective optical characteristic of the display area.

  In the transflective liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention, the optical path length in the liquid crystal layer through which the light incident from the surface of the counter substrate passes before the light exits from the surface of the counter substrate is And the display area are the same.

  Further, in the transflective liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention, the configuration of the color filter layer at a position corresponding to the decorative reflection portion of the counter substrate is the same as the configuration of the color filter layer at a position corresponding to the display area. It is characterized by becoming.

  According to the present invention, in the transflective liquid crystal display panel, the cell gap adjustment top provided at a position corresponding to the reflection plate of the display area at a position corresponding to the decorative reflection portion of the counter substrate. A top coat layer having the same pitch, the same width and the same height as the coat layer is provided, and the position where the top coat layer is not provided is covered with a black matrix, and the plurality of columnar spacers are arranged in the display area. And provided on the surface of the top coat layer of the reflective part for decoration.

  In the transflective liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention, the reflection plate provided in the decorative reflection portion of the array substrate has the same pitch and the same shape as the pixel electrodes provided in the display region, A black matrix for light shielding is provided at a position corresponding to the space between the reflecting plates of the decorative reflecting portion of the counter substrate.

  In the transflective liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention, the reflecting plate of the decorative reflecting portion has an uneven structure.

  The present invention has the following excellent effects by having the above-described configuration. That is, according to the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the reflective optical characteristic of the decorative reflecting portion formed around the display area of the array substrate is the same as the reflective optical characteristic of the display area. In white display where no voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes in the area, there is no difference in color tone from the decorative reflection part (parting area) that appears white, so there is no boundary between the display area and the decorative reflection part Looks like. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a transflective liquid crystal display panel having a decorative reflection portion that looks white even when the display area is white.

  According to the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the optical path length in the liquid crystal layer through which the light incident from the surface of the counter substrate passes through the surface of the counter substrate is Since the display area is the same as the display area, the reflection optical characteristic of the decorative reflecting portion formed around the display area of the array substrate is substantially the same as the reflection optical characteristic of the display area. For this reason, there is no color difference between the decorative reflective portion that appears white during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode in the display region, and the decorative reflective portion that looks white even when the display region is white displayed. A transflective liquid crystal display panel having the above is obtained.

  In addition, since the decorative reflective portion is originally exclusively for white display, it is not necessary to provide a color filter layer. However, according to the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, it corresponds to the decorative reflective portion of the counter substrate. Since the configuration of the color filter layer at the position is the same as that of the color filter layer at the position corresponding to the display area, it is easy to make the reflective optical characteristics of the decorative reflecting portion the same as the reflective optical characteristics of the display area. Thus, it is possible to prevent any difference in color tone from appearing in the decorative reflecting portion that appears white during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes in the display area.

  Further, according to the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the top coat layer provided in the decorative reflecting portion is the same as the cell gap adjusting top coat layer provided at a position facing the reflector in the display area. Since the top coat layer having the same pitch, the same width and the same height is provided, the cell gap of the decorative reflecting portion is the same as the cell gap at the position corresponding to the reflecting plate in the display area. In addition, since the position where the top coat layer of the decorative reflecting portion is not provided is covered with a black matrix, the cell gap in the decorative reflecting portion is different from the cell gap at the position corresponding to the reflector in the display region. Is shielded from light. Accordingly, in the decorative reflecting portion, the reflected light is emitted from the counter substrate only in the portion where the cell gap is the same as the cell gap at the position corresponding to the reflection plate in the display area. The characteristics can be made the same as the reflective optical characteristics of the display area, and no color difference appears between the reflective part for decoration that appears white during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes in the display area. Can do.

  In addition, since the surrounding conditions of the positions where the columnar spacers are provided are similar between the decorative reflective portion and the display region, the height of the columnar spacers is the same as the decorative reflective portion and the display region even if all the columnar spacers are formed simultaneously. Becomes substantially the same. Therefore, since the cell gap of the decorative reflecting portion is the same as the cell gap at the position corresponding to the reflector in the display area, it is easy to make the reflective optical characteristic of the decorative reflecting portion the same as the reflective optical characteristic of the display area. Thus, it is possible to prevent any difference in color tone from appearing in the decorative reflecting portion that appears white during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes in the display area.

  Further, according to the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the reflecting plate provided in the decorative reflecting portion of the array substrate has the same pitch and the same shape as the pixel electrodes provided in the display region, and Since a black matrix for shading is provided at a position corresponding to the space between the reflecting plates of the decorative reflecting portion, it is used conventionally without using a specially designed mask when forming the reflecting plate of the decorative reflecting portion. In addition, since the light transmitted between the reflectors is shielded by the black matrix, the reflective optical characteristics of the decorative reflective part can be easily converted to the reflective optical characteristics of the display area. It is possible to prevent the color difference from appearing at all with the decorative reflecting portion that appears white during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrodes in the display area.

  In addition, according to the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, since the reflecting plate of the decorative reflecting portion has a concavo-convex structure, light incident from the outside becomes diffusely reflected light, so that it looks pure white. As a result, a white liquid crystal display panel having a good decorative effect can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of examples and comparative examples with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify a transflective liquid crystal display panel for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention is intended to specify the transflective liquid crystal display panel. And is equally applicable to other embodiments within the scope of the claims.

[Comparative example]
First, the manufacturing process of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the comparative example and the configuration of the obtained transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (g) show the manufacturing process of the counter substrate of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 'of the comparative example for several pixels in which the parting area and the display area are arranged side by side. FIG. 5A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view, and FIG. 5A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of several pixels in the display area of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ of the comparative example, and FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view for several pixels.

  The configuration and cross-sectional view of each pixel in the display area of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ of the comparative example are substantially the same as the configuration of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A of the conventional example shown in FIGS. Further, a schematic plan view of a transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 'of a comparative example, a longitudinal sectional view of a frame region, and a schematic partial enlarged view of the upper left side of the array substrate are shown in FIGS. 7 is the same as the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B of the conventional example, and will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12 if necessary. In FIGS. In the following description, the same reference numerals are assigned to the components.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, on the surface of a transparent substrate 28 such as a glass substrate, a black matrix 41 for light shielding (see FIG. 9, see FIG. 4) at a position corresponding to each pixel electrode in the display region 14. Similarly, in the parting area 34, a black matrix 41b for light shielding is formed at a position corresponding to between each reflection plate. The black matrix 41b in the parting area 34 is for shielding the transmitted light from the gap between the reflection plates 37 in the parting area 34.

  Next, a color filter layer 29 is formed in a predetermined pattern on the transparent substrate 28 and the black matrix 41b, and then a photoresist 30 ′ having a predetermined thickness is formed on the surface of the color filter layer 29 as shown in FIG. Apply. The thickness of the photoresist 30 ′ is selected so that the cell gap in the reflection part of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B is about ½ of the cell gap in the transmission part.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4D, a portion of the photoresist is exposed at the position corresponding to the transmissive portion by exposing and developing the photoresist 30 'at the position corresponding to the transmissive portion only in the display region 14. Then, a top coat layer 30a having a predetermined pattern is formed, and a top coat layer 30b is formed entirely in the parting region 34 (see FIGS. 11 and 12). Therefore, the top coat layer 30a in the display area is formed in a stripe shape across the position corresponding to the reflective portion of each pixel (see FIG. 12), and does not exist in the transmissive portion. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4E, ITO is applied to the surfaces of the topcoat layers 30a and 30b in the display area 14 and the parting area 34, and the surface of the color filter layer 29 at a position corresponding to the transmission part of the display area 14. A counter electrode 31 made of a transparent electrode such as is formed. Since FIG. 4E is a schematic diagram, the counter electrode 31 on the top coat layer 30a and the counter electrode 31 between the top coat layer 30a seem to be divided in the display region 14; Are electrically connected and at the same potential.

  Thereafter, a predetermined amount of columnar spacer-forming photoresist 39 ′ is dropped on the surface of the counter electrode 31, and the film thickness is made uniform by, for example, spin coating. However, while the topcoat layer 30b having a uniform thickness is formed in the parting region 34, the topcoat layer 30a exists only in the position corresponding to the reflective portion in the display region 14, but the transmission is performed. Since the top coat layer does not exist in the portion, as shown in FIG. 4 (f), the thickness of the columnar spacer forming photoresist 39 ′ becomes a uniform thickness Lb in the parting region 34. In the display region 14, a part of the columnar spacer forming photoresist 39 ′ flows into a portion where the topcoat layer does not exist, and therefore the columnar spacer forming photoresist 39 ′ on the surface of the topcoat layer 30 a in the display region 14. The thickness La becomes smaller than Lb.

  When exposure and development of the columnar spacer forming photoresist 39 ′ are performed so that the columnar spacer is formed at a predetermined position in this state, as shown in FIG. 4G, the display region 14 has a height La. A columnar spacer 39 a is formed, and a columnar spacer 39 b having a height Lb is formed in the parting region 34. When the counter substrate 12 obtained in this way is combined with the array substrate 11 to form a transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ of a comparative example, a vertical section of several pixels in the display region 14 is shown in FIG. The vertical cross section of several pixels in the parting area 34 is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the irregularities on the surfaces of the reflectors 27 and 37 on the array substrate 11 side and the pixel electrode 26 or the transparent electrode 38 are not shown. Therefore, in the comparative transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 ′ obtained in this way, the height of the columnar spacer 39a in the display region 14 is La, and the height of the columnar spacer 39b in the parting region 34 is Lb. Therefore, the cell gap differs between the display area 14 and the parting area 34, and this appears as a color tone difference between the display part 14 and the parting area 34 during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 26 of the display area 14. It becomes.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of an Example is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-3. FIGS. 1A to 1G are schematic diagrams of several pixels in which the counter substrate of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 according to the embodiment is manufactured by arranging the parting area and the display area in order. FIG. 2A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of several pixels in the display area of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a few pixels in the parting area. FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged plan view of the upper left portion of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment. The configuration and cross-sectional views of each pixel in the display area of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment are substantially the same as the configuration of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10A of the conventional example shown in FIGS. Further, a schematic plan view and a longitudinal sectional view of the frame region of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment are the same as those of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, respectively. Therefore, the description will be made with reference to FIGS. 7 to 11 as necessary, and in FIGS. 1 to 3, the same components as those of the conventional example will be given the same reference numerals for description. I will do it.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1A, on a surface of a transparent substrate 28 such as a glass substrate, a black matrix 41 for light shielding (see FIG. 9, see FIG. 1) at a position corresponding to each pixel electrode in the display region 14. Similarly, in the parting area 34, a black matrix 41b for light shielding is formed at a position corresponding to between the reflecting plates 37 and a position where the top coat layer is not formed. The black matrix 41b in the parting area 34 is for shielding the transmitted light from the gap between the reflecting plates 37 in the parting area 34 and for shielding the reflected light from the position where the top coat layer is not formed.

  Next, a color filter layer 29 having the same configuration is formed in a predetermined pattern on the transparent substrate 28 and the black matrix 41b in the display area 14 and the parting area 34, and then, as shown in FIG. A photoresist 30 ′ having a predetermined thickness is applied to the surface of the layer 29. The thickness of the photoresist 30 ′ is selected so that the cell gap in the reflection part of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B is about ½ of the cell gap in the transmission part.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1D, a part of the photoresist is removed by exposing and developing the position corresponding to the transmissive part and the part of the parting area 34 where the topcoat layer is not formed, as shown in FIG. Then, the top coat layers 30a and 30b having a predetermined pattern are formed in both the display area 14 and the parting area 34. The topcoat layer 30b of the parting area 34 is provided in the reflective portion of the display area 14 also in the parting area 34 so that the reflection optical characteristic of the parting area 34 is the same as the reflection optical characteristic of the display area 14. It is preferable to have the same pitch and the same width as the top coat layer 30a. In this case, the top coat layers 30a and 30b are formed in a stripe shape across the position corresponding to the reflective portion of each pixel in the display region 14, but are not present in the transmissive portion, and are parted off. The region 34 is formed in stripes with the same pitch and width as the top coat layer 30a provided in the display region 14 (see FIG. 3).

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1 (e), ITO is applied to the surfaces of the topcoat layers 30a and 30b in the display region 14 and the parting region 34, and the surface of the color filter layer 29 at a position corresponding to the transmission part of the display region 14. A counter electrode 31 made of a transparent electrode such as is formed. In addition, since FIG.1 (e) is a schematic diagram, although the counter electrode 31 on topcoat layer 30a, 30b and the counter electrode 31 between topcoat layers 30a, 30b seem to have divided | segmented, actually Since the common electrode 31 is formed on the entire surface of the display region 14 and the parting region 34, these counter electrodes 31 are connected and are supplied with the same potential. Next, a predetermined amount of columnar spacer-forming photoresist 39 ′ is dropped on the surface of the counter electrode 31, and the film thickness is made uniform by, for example, spin coating. Then, since the topcoat layers 30a and 30b have the same shape in the parting region 34 and the display region 14, as shown in FIG. 1 (f), the thickness of the columnar spacer forming photoresist 39 ′ is uniform. Thickness La.

  When exposure and development of the columnar spacer forming photoresist 39 ′ are performed so that the columnar spacers are formed at predetermined positions in this state, as shown in FIG. 1G, the display area 14 has a height La. A columnar spacer 39a is formed, and a columnar spacer 39b having a height La is also formed in the parting region 34. When the counter substrate 12 obtained in this way is combined with the array substrate 11 to form the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment, the vertical cross section of several pixels in the display region 14 is shown in FIG. The vertical section of several pixels in the parting area 34 is as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the surface irregularities of the reflecting plates 27 and 37 on the array substrate 11 side and the pixel electrode 26 or the transparent electrode 38 are not shown. Therefore, in the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment obtained in this way, the height of the columnar spacer 39a in the display area 14 and the height of the columnar spacer 39b in the parting area 34 are both La. Since the cell gap between the region 14 and the parting region 34 is the same, a difference in color tone appears between the region 14 and the parting region 34 during white display when no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 26 of the display region 14 as in the comparative example. There will be nothing.

  As the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment, an example in which the columnar spacers 39a and 39b are provided with the rib receiving portions 40 on the array substrate 11 side for each pixel is shown (see FIG. 3). Since 39a and 39b do not need to be provided for each pixel, they may be provided for every several pixels, particularly for positions corresponding to other pixels excluding green (G) pixels with high visibility. Further, as the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment, the reflection plate 37 on the array substrate 11 side of the parting area and the transparent electrode 38 provided on the surface are shown in a floating state, but the potential is Since it may become unstable, the transparent electrode 38 may be provided over the entire area so as to have the same potential as the counter electrode 31. Since the parting area 34 is a decoration area, if the RGB color filter layers formed in the parting area 34 are equally arranged in the same manner as the display area 14, the parting area 34 appears white. In addition, any color may be reproduced by arranging any one of RGB or changing the combination ratio of each color.

FIG. 1A to FIG. 1G are schematic vertical cross-sections for several pixels showing the manufacturing process of the counter substrate of the transflective liquid crystal display panel 10 of the embodiment in order by arranging the parting area and the display area side by side. FIG. 2A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of several pixels in the display region of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a longitudinal sectional view of several pixels in the parting region. . FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged plan view of the upper left portion of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment. 4A to 4G are schematic longitudinal sectional views of several pixels showing the manufacturing process of the counter substrate of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the comparative example in order by arranging the parting area and the display area in order. It is. FIG. 5A is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of several pixels in the display area of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the comparative example, and FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of several pixels in the parting area. It is a typical top view of the transflective liquid crystal display panel of the single terminal type of a prior art example. It is a top view for several pixels of the array substrate of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. It is a typical top view of transflective liquid crystal display panel 10B which used the non-display area | region which formed the reflection part for decoration. It is sectional drawing along CC line of FIG. FIG. 11 is a schematic partial enlarged view of the upper left side of the array substrate of the liquid crystal display panel of FIG. 10.

Explanation of symbols

10,10 ', 10A, 10B semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel 11 the array substrate 12 counter substrate 13, 28 transparent substrate 14 display region 15 frame region 16 driver circuit arrangement section 17 scanning lines 17 ₁ scanning lines 18 auxiliary capacitance line 19 gate Insulating film 20 Semiconductor layer 21 Signal line 21 ₁ Signal line wiring 22 Protective insulating film 23 Interlayer film 24 Contact hole 26 Pixel electrode 29 Color filter layer 30, 30a, 30b Topcoat layer 31 Counter electrode 33 Non-display area 34 Parting area (reflection) Non-display area that formed part)
35 Sealing material 36 Black mask 37 Reflecting plate 38 Transparent electrodes 39, 39a, 39b Columnar spacers 40 Rib receiving portions 41, 41b Black matrix 42 Common wiring

Claims (6)

A plurality of signal lines and scanning lines arranged in a matrix are provided on a translucent substrate, and an insulating film is covered over the entire surface, and is surrounded by the plurality of signal lines and scanning lines. In addition, an array substrate having a display region in which a pixel electrode is formed in each region on the insulating film, and a reflective plate is partially formed on a front surface or a back surface of the pixel electrode;
A counter substrate having a color filter layer and a counter electrode;
A peripheral portion of the array substrate and the counter substrate is sealed with a sealing material, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between both substrates;
A plurality of columnar spacers provided between the array substrate and the counter substrate;
In a transflective liquid crystal display panel having
Around the display area of the array substrate is formed a decorative reflecting portion having a reflecting plate, and the peripheral portion of the decorative reflecting portion is sealed by the sealing material,
The transflective liquid crystal display panel, wherein the reflective optical characteristic of the decorative reflecting portion is the same as the reflective optical characteristic of the display area.   The optical path length in the liquid crystal layer through which the light incident from the surface of the counter substrate passes before the light exits from the surface of the counter substrate is the same in the decorative reflecting portion and the display region. The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1.   2. The half of claim 1, wherein the configuration of the color filter layer at a position corresponding to the decorative reflection portion of the counter substrate is the same as that of the color filter layer at a position corresponding to the display area. Transmission type liquid crystal display panel.   The top of the counter substrate having the same pitch, the same width and the same height as the cell gap adjusting top coat layer provided at a position facing the reflecting plate of the display area is located at a position corresponding to the reflecting portion for decoration. The coating layer is provided, and the position where the top coating layer is not provided is covered with a black matrix for shading, and the plurality of columnar spacers are formed on the surface of the top coating layer of the display area and the reflection part for decoration. The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display panel is provided.   Reflective plates provided in the decorative reflecting portion of the array substrate have the same pitch and shape as the pixel electrodes provided in the display region, and correspond between the reflective plates of the decorative reflecting portion of the counter substrate. The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein a black matrix for shading is provided at the position where the light is transmitted.   The transflective liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the reflection plate of the decorative reflection portion has an uneven structure.

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