JP2009080303A - Liquid crystal device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal device capable of preventing the occurrence of a display defect due to local thinning of an alignment layer, and electronic equipment. <P>SOLUTION: The alignment layer 34 coming in contact with a liquid crystal layer 23 and regulating the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules is formed on a first electrode 11. The first electrode 11 is includes a band-shaped electrode 11b formed into a band shape and the sectional shape orthogonal to the extension direction of the band-shaped electrode 11b is formed with the a slope part 11s at the end on the side of the extension direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus.

Conventionally, there is known a liquid crystal device in which a pair of electrodes is provided on one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, and liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are driven by an electric field generated between the pair of electrodes (for example, , See Patent Document 1).
JP-A-11-202356

However, in the conventional liquid crystal device, as shown in FIG. 13A, of the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 41 formed on one substrate 21, the band shape of the pixel electrode 11 disposed on the liquid crystal layer 23 side. The cross-sectional shape of the electrode 11B is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The pixel electrode 11 is covered with an alignment film 34.
For this reason, as shown in FIG. 13B, the film thickness t of the alignment film 34 covering the strip electrode 11B becomes extremely thin at the corner C formed on the liquid crystal layer 23 side of the strip electrode 11B. As described above, when the film thickness t of the alignment film 34 on the pixel electrode 11 is extremely thin, charges are locally accumulated in the corner C, and display defects such as display burn-in are likely to occur near the corner C. There is a problem of becoming.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a liquid crystal device and an electronic apparatus that can prevent display defects due to local thinning of an alignment film.

  In order to solve the above problems, a liquid crystal device according to the present invention includes a first electrode and a second electrode provided on one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer, and the first electrode and the second electrode. A liquid crystal device for driving liquid crystal molecules constituting the liquid crystal layer by an electric field generated between the electrodes, wherein an alignment film in contact with the liquid crystal layer is formed on the first electrode, and the first electrode has a strip shape The cross-sectional shape that includes the formed strip-shaped electrode and is orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip-shaped electrode is characterized in that an inclined portion is formed at the end of the side in the extending direction.

By configuring in this way, the band-like electrode is viewed from the end of the side in the extending direction of the band-shaped electrode, that is, from the non-formation region side of the band-shaped electrode toward the center of the band-shaped electrode in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the extending direction. Inclined state. Thereby, compared with the conventional strip-shaped electrode having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, local thinning of the alignment film is alleviated.
Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device of the present invention, it is possible to prevent display defects due to local thinning of the alignment film, and to enlarge the region contributing to the display of the liquid crystal device and improve the display quality.

  The liquid crystal device of the present invention is characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the strip electrode is formed in a triangular shape.

With such a configuration, the film thickness of the alignment film covering the strip electrode gradually decreases from the non-form region of the strip electrode toward the apex of the strip electrode having a triangular cross section. Thereby, compared with the conventional strip-shaped electrode having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, local thinning of the alignment film is alleviated.
Further, the side surface of the belt-like electrode is inclined from the side where the belt-like electrode is not formed to the tip of the tapered belt-like electrode. Thereby, an electric field can be generated between the side surface of the first electrode and the second electrode, and a region contributing to display in the liquid crystal device can be enlarged. In addition, since the vicinity of the tip is a region in the center of the strip electrode that hardly contributes to the display of the liquid crystal device, even if charges are accumulated at the tip where the alignment film is thinned, the display quality of the liquid crystal device is affected. There is no.

  In the liquid crystal device of the invention, the cross-sectional shape of the strip electrode is formed in a semicircular shape or a semielliptical shape.

  With this configuration, the film thickness of the alignment film covering the strip electrode gradually decreases from the non-form region of the strip electrode toward the apex of the strip electrode having a semicircular or semi-elliptical cross section. . Thereby, compared with the conventional strip-shaped electrode having a rectangular cross-sectional shape, local thinning of the alignment film is alleviated.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, an interelectrode insulating film is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a convex portion or a concave portion is formed on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film. The electrode is formed on the surface of the convex portion or the concave portion.

  By comprising in this way, the above-mentioned beltlike electrode can be formed using the shape of the convex part or concave part of an insulating film between electrodes.

  In the liquid crystal device according to the aspect of the invention, the convex portion is formed over the extending direction of the strip electrode, and the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion is formed in a tapered shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the strip electrode. It is characterized by.

  By comprising in this way, a strip | belt-shaped electrode can be formed in the above-mentioned taper-shape using the shape of the convex part of the insulating film between electrodes.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the second electrode is formed on a surface of an insulating film formed on the one substrate, the interelectrode insulating film is formed on the second electrode, and the insulating film A substrate-side convex portion or a substrate-side concave portion is formed in the band-shaped electrode forming region on the surface of the film, and the convex portion or the concave portion is formed along the shape of the substrate-side convex portion or the substrate-side concave portion, respectively. It is characterized by being.

  By comprising in this way, a convex part or a recessed part is formed in the insulating film between electrodes using the shape of the substrate side convex part or substrate side concave part of an insulating film, and also using the shape of the convex part or the concave part A strip electrode can be formed in the cross-sectional shape described above. In addition, the second electrode can be formed flat, and the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode can be made constant.

In addition, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the above liquid crystal devices.
With such a configuration, the electronic apparatus includes a liquid crystal device that prevents display defects and improves display quality, and thus provides an electronic apparatus that prevents display defects and improves display quality. can do.

<First embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale is appropriately changed for each layer and each member so that each layer and each member can be recognized on the drawing. Here, FIG. 1 is an equivalent circuit diagram of the liquid crystal device, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged plan view showing a sub-pixel region of the liquid crystal device, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG.

[Liquid crystal device]
The liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment is a color liquid crystal device using an FFS (Fringe-Field Switching) method, and outputs three color lights of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). This is a liquid crystal device in which one pixel is composed of sub-pixels. Here, a display area which is a minimum unit constituting display is referred to as a “sub-pixel area”, and a display area including a set (R, G, B) of sub-pixels is referred to as a “pixel area”.

First, a schematic configuration of the liquid crystal device 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal device 1 has a plurality of sub-pixel areas constituting a pixel display area arranged in a matrix.
In addition, a plurality of sub-pixel areas constituting the pixel display area of the liquid crystal device 1 are each provided with a pixel electrode 11 (first electrode) and a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) element 12 for switching control of the pixel electrode 11. And are formed. The TFT element 12 has a source connected to a data line 14 extending from a data line driving circuit 13 provided in the liquid crystal device 1 and a gate extending from a scanning line driving circuit 15 provided in the liquid crystal device 1. The drain is connected to the line 16 and the drain is connected to the pixel electrode 11.
The data line driving circuit 13 is configured to supply image signals S1, S2,..., Sn to the sub-pixel regions via the data line. Further, the scanning line driving circuit 15 is configured to supply scanning signals G1, G2,..., Gm to the sub-pixel regions via the scanning lines 16. Here, the data line driving circuit 13 may supply the image signals S1 to Sn line-sequentially in this order, or may supply each of the data lines 14 adjacent to each other for each group. Further, the scanning line driving circuit 15 supplies the scanning signals G1 to Gm in a pulse-sequential manner at predetermined timing.

In the liquid crystal device 1, the TFT elements 12 that are switching elements are turned on for a certain period by the input of the scanning signals G <b> 1 to Gm, so that the image signals S <b> 1 to Sn supplied from the data line 14 have a predetermined timing. Thus, the pixel electrode 11 is written.
A predetermined level of image signals S1 to Sn written to the liquid crystal via the pixel electrode 11 is held for a certain period between the pixel electrode 11 and a common electrode 41 (described later) arranged via the liquid crystal. Here, in order to prevent the held image signals S1 to Sn from leaking, the storage capacitor 18 is provided so as to be connected in parallel with a liquid crystal capacitor formed between the pixel electrode 11 and a common electrode 41 described later. Has been. The storage capacitor 18 is provided between the drain of the TFT element 12 and the capacitor line 19.

Next, a detailed configuration of the liquid crystal device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
In FIG. 2, the counter substrate is not shown. Further, in FIG. 3, illustration of the strip electrode constituting the pixel electrode is omitted as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal device 1 includes an element substrate 21, a counter substrate 22 disposed opposite to the element substrate 21, a liquid crystal layer 23 sandwiched between the element substrate 21 and the counter substrate 22, A polarizing plate 24 provided on the outer surface side of the substrate 21 (opposite side of the liquid crystal layer 23) and a polarizing plate 25 provided on the outer surface side of the counter substrate 22 are provided. The liquid crystal device 1 is configured to be irradiated with illumination light from the outer surface side of the element substrate 21.
The liquid crystal device 1 is provided with a sealing material (not shown) along the edge of the region where the element substrate 21 and the counter substrate 22 face each other. The liquid crystal layer 23 is sealed.

The element substrate 21 includes, for example, a substrate body 31 made of a light-transmitting material such as glass, quartz, and plastic, and a gate insulating film 32 and an insulating film 36 that are sequentially stacked on the inner surface (the liquid crystal layer 23 side) of the substrate body 31. The inter-electrode insulating film 33 and the alignment film 34 are provided.
The element substrate 21 includes a scanning line 16, a capacitor line 19 and a common electrode 41 (second electrode) disposed on the inner surface of the substrate body 31, and a data line disposed on the inner surface of the gate insulating film 32. 14 (see FIG. 2), a semiconductor layer 42, a source electrode 43, a drain electrode 44 and a capacitor electrode 45, and a pixel electrode 11 disposed on the inner surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33.

  The gate insulating film 32 is made of a translucent material having an insulating property such as silicon nitride or silicon oxide, and covers the scanning line 16, the capacitor line 19, and the common electrode 41 formed on the substrate body 31. It is provided as follows.

As with the gate insulating film 32, the insulating film 36 and the interelectrode insulating film 33 are made of a translucent material having insulating properties such as silicon nitride and silicon oxide. The insulating film 36 is provided so as to cover the semiconductor layer 42, the source electrode 43, the drain electrode 44, and the capacitor electrode 45 formed on the gate insulating film 32. An interelectrode insulating film 33 is formed on the insulating film 36.
A portion of the insulating film 36 and the interelectrode insulating film 33 that overlaps a later-described frame portion 11a and the capacitor electrode 45 of the pixel electrode 11 in a plan view is penetrated to make the pixel electrode 11 and the TFT element 12 conductive. A contact hole 33a, which is a hole, is formed.

The alignment film 34 is made of, for example, an organic material such as polyimide, and is provided so as to cover the pixel electrode 11 formed on the interelectrode insulating film 33. Here, the film thickness T of the alignment film 34 is, for example, about 40 nm to about 150 nm. The film thickness T of the alignment film 34 indicates the film thickness in a region where the pixel electrode 11 is not covered in the alignment film 34.
The upper surface of the alignment film 34 is subjected to an alignment process for regulating the alignment of liquid crystal molecules constituting the liquid crystal layer 23. The alignment film 34 is coated with the organic material described above so as to cover the interelectrode insulating film 33 and the pixel electrode 11 formed on the upper surface, dried and cured, and then subjected to a rubbing process on the upper surface. It is formed by.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data line 14 extends in the Y-axis direction, and the scanning line 16 and the capacitance line 19 extend in the X-axis direction. Therefore, the data lines 14, the scanning lines 16, and the capacitor lines 19 are wired in a substantially lattice shape in plan view.
The semiconductor layer 42 is made of a semiconductor such as amorphous silicon partially formed in a region overlapping the scanning line 16 in plan view. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the source electrode 43 is a wiring having a substantially inverted L shape in plan view, and is branched from the data line 14 and is electrically connected to the semiconductor layer 42. The drain electrode 44 is electrically connected to the capacitor electrode 45 formed at the edge of the subpixel region. These semiconductor layer 42, source electrode 43 and drain electrode 44 constitute the TFT element 12. Therefore, the TFT element 12 is provided in the vicinity of the intersection of the data line 14 and the scanning line 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitor electrode 45 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, overlaps the capacitor line 19 in plan view, and on the capacitor electrode 45, the edge of the frame portion 11 a of the pixel electrode 11 is formed. It is formed so as to overlap in plan view. As shown in FIG. 3, the capacitor electrode 45 is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 11 through a contact hole 33 a that penetrates the interelectrode insulating film 33. Further, the storage capacitor 18 is formed by the capacitor electrode 45 and the capacitor line 19.

  The pixel electrode 11 has a substantially ladder shape in plan view and is made of a light-transmitting conductive material such as ITO (indium tin oxide). The pixel electrode 11 extends in the X-axis direction (scanning line 16 extending direction) and is spaced in the Y-axis direction (data line 14 extending direction) from the rectangular frame-shaped frame portion 11a in plan view. And a plurality of (15) strip-shaped electrodes 11b arranged so as to be parallel to each other. Here, both ends of the strip electrode 11b are connected to portions of the frame portion 11a extending in the Y-axis direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a convex portion 35 is formed in the formation region of the strip electrode 11 b on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33. The convex portion 35 is formed by, for example, a mask sputtering method or the like. As shown in FIG. 4, the convex portion 35 is formed in a substantially triangular tapered cross-sectional shape in which the width W <b> 1 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side.

The strip electrode 11b is formed along the surface of the convex portion 35 by, for example, a sputtering method or the like. The cross-sectional shape of the strip electrode 11 b is formed in a substantially triangular tapered shape in which the width W <b> 2 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the convex portion 35. Further, the side surfaces 11s and 11s (inclined portions) of the strip electrode 11b are formed to be inclined from the non-formation region of the strip electrode 11b toward the vertex V on the liquid crystal layer 23 side.
The vertex V of the strip electrode 11b is formed at the approximate center in the width W2 direction of the strip electrode 11b, and is formed substantially bilaterally symmetrical in a cross-sectional view. The alignment film 34 is formed so that the film thickness T1 on the vertex V is the thinnest.

The common electrode 41 has a strip shape extending in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 2 in plan view, and is made of a light-transmitting conductive material such as ITO, for example, like the pixel electrode 11. The common electrode 41 is disposed on the side farther from the liquid crystal layer 23 than the pixel electrode 11, that is, on the substrate body 31 side of the pixel electrode 11 (between the pixel electrode 11 and the substrate body 31). The common electrode 41 is applied with, for example, a predetermined constant potential or 0 V used for driving the liquid crystal layer 23, or another predetermined constant potential different from the predetermined constant potential. Is configured to be applied with a signal that switches periodically (every frame period or filled period).
As described above, the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 41 are disposed via the gate insulating film 32 and the inter-electrode insulating film 33 constituting the insulating layer. Further, the interval between the strip electrodes 11 b constituting the pixel electrode 11 is smaller than the electrode width of the strip electrodes 11 b and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23. Thus, the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 41 constitute an FFS type electrode structure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the counter substrate 22 is sequentially stacked on a substrate body 51 made of a light-transmitting material such as glass, quartz, and plastic, and on the inner surface (the liquid crystal layer 23 side) of the substrate body 51. The color filter layer 52 and the alignment film 53 are provided.
The color filter layer 52 is arranged corresponding to the sub-pixel region, and is made of, for example, acrylic and contains a color material corresponding to the display color of each sub-pixel. A light shielding film (not shown) is provided on the inner side of the color filter layer 52 so as to overlap the data lines 14, the scanning lines 16, the capacitor lines 19, and the TFT elements 12 provided on the element substrate 21 in plan view. Yes.
The alignment film 53 is made of, for example, an organic material such as polyimide or an inorganic material such as silicon oxide, and the alignment direction thereof is the same as the alignment direction of the alignment film 34.
The polarizing plates 24 and 25 are provided so that their transmission axes are orthogonal to each other.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
The liquid crystal device 1 is a lateral electric field type liquid crystal device using the FFS method, and supplies an image signal (voltage) to the pixel electrode 11 through the TFT element 12, thereby providing a gap between the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 41. An electric field is generated in the direction of the substrate surface, and the liquid crystal is driven by this electric field. Then, the liquid crystal device 1 performs display by changing the transmittance for each sub-pixel region.
That is, in a state where no voltage is applied to the pixel electrode 11, the liquid crystal molecules constituting the liquid crystal layer 23 are horizontally aligned in a certain direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, an electric field E along the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip electrode 11 b constituting the pixel electrode 11 is generated in the liquid crystal layer 23 through the pixel electrode 11 and the common electrode 41. Then, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along this direction.

In the liquid crystal device 1, the illumination light is transmitted through the polarizing plate 24 to be converted into linearly polarized light along the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 24 and enters the liquid crystal layer 23.
If the liquid crystal layer 23 is in the off state (non-selected state), the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 23 is emitted from the liquid crystal layer 23 in the same polarization state as that at the time of incidence. This linearly polarized light is absorbed by the polarizing plate 25 having a transmission axis orthogonal to the linearly polarized light, and the sub-pixel region is darkly displayed.
On the other hand, if the liquid crystal layer 23 is in the on state (selected state), the linearly polarized light incident on the liquid crystal layer 23 is given a predetermined phase difference (1/2 wavelength) by the liquid crystal layer 23, and the polarization direction at the time of incidence. Is converted into linearly polarized light rotated by 90 ° and emitted from the liquid crystal layer 23. Since this linearly polarized light is parallel to the transmission axis of the polarizing plate 25, the linearly polarized light passes through the polarizing plate 25 and is visually recognized as display light, and the sub-pixel region is brightly displayed.
As described above, the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment is a liquid crystal device using a normally black mode that is darkly displayed in the off state.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the strip electrode 11 b is formed by tilting the side surfaces 11 s and 11 s of the strip electrode 11 b in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip electrode 11 b, and the liquid crystal layer 23. It is formed in a substantially triangular tapered shape in which the width W2 decreases toward the side. As a result, the film thickness T of the alignment film 34 covering the strip electrode 11b gradually decreases from the non-formation region of the strip electrode 11b to the apex V of the tapered strip electrode 11b. Accordingly, as compared with the conventional strip electrode 11B having a rectangular cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 13B, local thinning of the alignment film 34 is prevented, and charges are accumulated in the portion excluding the vertex V. Can be prevented.

Further, in the vicinity of the vertex V of the strip electrode 11b, since the electric field E is generated along a direction close to the normal direction of the liquid crystal layer 23, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip electrode 11b. Can not do it. For this reason, the vicinity of the vertex V is a region B in the substantially central portion of the strip electrode 11 b that does not contribute to the display of the liquid crystal device 1. Therefore, even if charges are accumulated in the vicinity of the vertex V where the alignment film 34 is thinned, the display quality of the liquid crystal device 1 is not affected.
Therefore, according to the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent display defects such as display burn-in from occurring even if charges are accumulated in a portion where the alignment film 34 is locally thinned.

  Further, since the side surfaces 11s and 11s of the belt-like electrode 11b are inclined from the non-formation region side of the belt-like electrode 11b toward the vertex V, the electric field E in the vicinity of the side surfaces 11s and 11s in the side surface 11s direction, and It can be generated in a direction closer to the substrate surface direction. Therefore, the region D contributing to display in the liquid crystal device 1 can be enlarged as compared with the belt-like electrode 11B having the conventional cross-sectional shape shown in FIG.

Further, the strip electrode 11b is formed along the surface of the convex portion 35 on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33, and the convex portion 35 is formed in a substantially triangular tapered shape. Therefore, the shape of the convex portion 35 is used. Thus, the strip electrode 11b can be formed in a tapered shape.
Accordingly, it is easy to form the tapered strip electrode 11b, and the productivity of the liquid crystal device 1 is not lowered when the strip electrode 11b is formed.

<Second embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of the strip electrode 11b and the convex portion 35 described in the first embodiment and the strip electrodes 11c to 11e and the convex portions 35c to 35e are different. Since the other points are the same as in the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5A, in the formation region of the band-like electrode 11c on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33, the convex portion 35c has a substantially semi-elliptical tapered shape in which the width Wc1 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. It is formed in a cross-sectional shape.
The band-shaped electrode 11c is formed along the surface of the convex portion 35c, is formed in a substantially semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the convex portion 35c, and has a tapered shape in which the width Wc2 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. Is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5B, in the formation region of the band-like electrode 11d on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33, the convex portion 35d has a substantially trapezoidal tapered shape in which the width Wd1 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. The cross-sectional shape is formed.
The band-shaped electrode 11d is formed along the surface of the convex portion 35d, is formed in a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the convex portion 35d, and is formed in a tapered shape in which the width Wd2 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. Has been. In order to make the drawing easy to understand, Wd1 is shown widely, but it is preferable to make Wd1 as narrow as possible. This is to reduce the influence on the display quality by keeping Vd away from the side end of the strip electrode 11b.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the band electrode 11e forming region on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33 has a substantially triangular tapered cross-sectional shape with a width We1 decreasing toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. A portion 35e is formed. The convex portion 35e is made of, for example, a resin material such as acrylic resin. The protrusion 35e is formed, for example, by patterning a resin material layer formed on the interelectrode insulating film 33 by photolithography, etching, or the like.
The strip electrode 11e is formed along the surface of the convex portion 35e, and has a substantially triangular tapered cross-sectional shape corresponding to the shape of the convex portion 35e, and the width We2 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. ing.

  As described above, the strip electrodes 11c to 11e are formed so that the side surfaces 11s and 11s of the strip electrodes 11c to 11e are inclined in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip electrodes 11c to 11e, and toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side. Since the width Wc2 to We2 is formed in a tapered cross-sectional shape, the film thickness T of the alignment film 34 is changed from the non-formation region of the strip electrodes 11c to 11e to the strip electrode as in the first embodiment described above. It gradually becomes thinner toward the vertices Vc to Ve of 11c to 11e. Therefore, local thinning of the alignment film 34 is prevented, and the same effect as in the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, by forming the convex portion 35e with a resin material such as acrylic resin, the shape of the convex portion 35e can be easily controlled. Moreover, you may form the convex part 35,35c, 35d mentioned above with the resin material similarly to the convex part 35e. Thereby, similarly to the convex part 35e, control of a cross-sectional shape can be made easy.
Therefore, the width of the strip electrodes 11b to 11e and the interval between the strip electrodes 11b to 11e can be reduced by forming the convex portions 35 to 35e using a resin material.

<Third embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6 with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. The present embodiment is different from the liquid crystal device 1 described in the first embodiment in that a substrate-side convex portion 37 is formed on the insulating film 36. Since the other points are the same as in the first embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a substrate-side convex portion 37 is formed in the formation region of the strip electrode 11 b on the surface of the insulating film 36 of the liquid crystal device 1 ′ of the present embodiment. The substrate-side convex portion 37 is formed in a substantially triangular tapered cross-sectional shape in which the width W3 decreases toward the liquid crystal layer 23 side.

  On the insulating film 36, the common electrode 41 is formed by being laminated, and the formation region of the strip electrode 11b is formed in a convex shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the substrate-side convex portion 37 of the insulating film 36. And the convex part 35 is formed in the surface by the side of the liquid crystal layer 23 of the interelectrode insulating film 33 along the shape of the common electrode 41 formed convexly. That is, the convex portion 35 is formed along the shape of the substrate-side convex portion 37.

Thus, by forming the convex portion 35 along the shape of the substrate-side convex portion 37, the convex portion 35 is formed in the interelectrode insulating film 33 using the shape of the substrate-side convex portion 37 of the insulating film 36. Furthermore, the strip-shaped electrode 11b can be formed in the above-mentioned substantially triangular tapered cross-sectional shape by utilizing the shape of the convex portion 35.
Therefore, according to the present embodiment, not only the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained, but also the substrate-side convex portion 37 only needs to be formed on the insulating film 36, which facilitates the manufacture of the liquid crystal device 1 ′. Productivity can be improved.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is different from the liquid crystal devices 1 and 1 ′ described in the first to third embodiments described above in that concave portions 38 and 38c to 38e are formed instead of the convex portions 35 and 35c to 35e. ing. Since the other points are the same as those of the first embodiment to the third embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a recess 38 is formed in the formation region of the strip electrode 11b on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33 of the liquid crystal device 1B. The recess 38 is formed by, for example, etching. The recess 38 is formed in a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape with the vertex V facing the substrate body 31 side. Further, the strip electrode 11 b is formed so as to be accommodated in the recess 38 along the shape of the recess 38. Side surfaces 11s and 11s (inclined portions) of the strip electrode 11b are formed along the shape of the recess 38 so as to be inclined from the non-formation region of the strip electrode 11b toward the vertex V on the liquid crystal layer 23 side.

  As described above, the belt-like electrode 11 b is formed so that the side surfaces 11 s and 11 s are inclined along the shape of the recess 38 and is accommodated in the recess 38. Thereby, the film thickness T of the alignment film 34 covering the strip electrode 11b is formed flat from the non-formation region to the formation region of the strip electrode 11b. Therefore, as compared with the conventional strip electrode 11B having a rectangular cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 13B, the alignment film 34 is prevented from being thinned locally, and charges can be prevented from being partially accumulated.

  Next, a first modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C with reference to FIG. In the present modification, the above-described recess 38 is different in cross-sectional shape from the strip electrodes 11c to 11d and the recesses 38c to 38e. The other points are the same as in the above-described fourth embodiment, so the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8A, in the formation region of the strip electrode 11c on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33, a recess 38c is formed in a substantially semi-elliptical cross-sectional shape.
The strip-shaped electrode 11c is formed along the surface of the recess 38c, and the side surfaces 11s and 11s are inclined so as to be accommodated in the recess 38c.

As shown in FIG. 8B, in the formation region of the strip electrode 11d on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33, a recess 38d is formed in a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.
The band-shaped electrode 11d is formed along the surface of the recess 38d, and the side surfaces 11s and 11s are inclined so as to be accommodated inside the recess 38c.

As shown in FIG. 8C, in the formation region of the strip electrode 11e on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33, a recess 38e is formed in a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape.
The strip-shaped electrode 11e is formed along the surface of the recess 38e, and the side surfaces 11s and 11s are inclined and formed so as to be accommodated in the recess 38c.

  As described above, the belt-like electrodes 11c to 11e are formed so that the side surfaces 11s and 11s are inclined along the shape of the recesses 38c to 38e and are accommodated in the recesses 38c to 38e. Thereby, the film thickness T of the alignment film 34 covering the strip electrodes 11c to 11e is formed flat from the non-formation region to the formation region of the strip electrode 11b. Therefore, as compared with the conventional strip electrode 11B having a rectangular cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 13B, the alignment film 34 is prevented from being thinned locally, and charges can be prevented from being partially accumulated.

  Next, a second modification of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This modification differs from the fourth embodiment described above in that a substrate-side recess 39 is formed in the insulating film 36. Since the other points are the same as in the fourth embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a substrate-side recess 39 is formed in the formation region of the strip electrode 11b on the surface of the insulating film 36 of the liquid crystal device 1B '. The substrate-side recess 39 is formed in a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape with the vertex V ′ facing the substrate body 31 side.

  On the insulating film 36, the common electrode 41 is formed by being laminated, and the formation region of the strip electrode 11 b is formed in a concave shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the substrate-side concave portion 39 of the insulating film 36. A concave portion 38 is formed on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film 33 on the liquid crystal layer 23 side along the shape of the common electrode 41 formed in a concave shape. That is, the recess 38 is formed along the shape of the substrate-side recess 39.

Thus, by forming the recess 38 along the shape of the substrate-side recess 39, the recess 38 is formed in the interelectrode insulating film 33 using the shape of the substrate-side recess 39 of the insulating film 36, and the recess The strip electrode 11b can be formed in the above-described substantially triangular cross-sectional shape by utilizing the shape of 38.
Therefore, according to this modification, not only the same effects as in the fourth embodiment described above can be obtained, but also the substrate-side recess 39 need only be formed in the insulating film 36, so that the liquid crystal device 1B ′ can be easily manufactured. And productivity can be improved.

〔Electronics〕
Next, an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device 1 having the above-described configuration will be described. Here, FIG. 10 is an external perspective view showing a mobile phone which is an electronic apparatus including the liquid crystal device of the present invention.
The electronic apparatus according to the present embodiment is a mobile phone 100 as shown in FIG. 10, and includes a main body 101 and a display body 102 that can be opened and closed. A display device 103 is arranged inside the display body 102, and various displays relating to telephone communication can be visually recognized on the display screen 104. In addition, operation buttons 105 are arranged on the main body 101.
An antenna 106 is attached to one end portion of the display body 102 so as to be extendable. Further, a speaker (not shown) is built in the receiver 107 provided on the upper part of the display body 102. Further, a microphone (not shown) is built in the transmitter 108 provided at the lower end of the main body 101.
Here, the liquid crystal device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used for the display device 103.

  As described above, the mobile phone 100 including the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the liquid crystal device 1 in which display defects such as display image sticking are prevented from occurring and the area contributing to display is enlarged. Therefore, the mobile phone 100 with high display quality can be provided.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the convex portion is formed in the interelectrode insulating film and the strip electrode is formed on the surface of the convex portion. However, the interelectrode insulating film is formed flat without forming the convex portion, and the cross section is tapered. A solid band-like electrode may be formed.

  Further, the shape of the pixel electrode 11 is not limited to the shape described in the above embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the strip electrode 11b may be a pixel electrode 11 'extending in the Y-axis direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the pixel electrode 11 ″ in which the inclination in the Y-axis direction of the strip electrode 11b extending substantially in the X-axis direction may be reversed in the middle of the Y-axis direction.

  Further, although the TFT element is used as a drive element for switching control of the pixel electrode, the drive element is not limited to the TFT element, and other drive elements such as a TFD (Thin Film Diode) element may be used.

Further, the liquid crystal device is not limited to the normally black mode, and may adopt a normally white mode by appropriately changing the transmission axis of the polarizing plate.
The liquid crystal device is a transmissive display device, but may be a transflective liquid crystal device or a reflective liquid crystal device.
Furthermore, the liquid crystal device is a color liquid crystal device that performs color display of three colors of R, G, and B, but a single color display device that performs color display of any one of R, G, and B, or another color, A display device that displays two colors or four or more colors may be used. Further, the color filter layer may not be provided on the counter substrate. Here, the color filter layer may be provided on the element substrate without providing the color filter layer on the counter substrate.
Furthermore, the electronic device is not limited to the above-described mobile phone provided with a liquid crystal device, but is an electronic book, a personal computer, a digital still camera, a liquid crystal television, a viewfinder type or a monitor direct view type video tape recorder, a car navigation device, It may be an image display means such as a pager, electronic notebook, calculator, word processor, workstation, videophone, POS terminal, or a device equipped with a touch panel.

It is a circuit block diagram which shows the liquid crystal device in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a plane block diagram which shows the sub pixel area | region of a liquid crystal device. It is A-A 'arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view of a strip electrode. (A)-(c) is an expanded sectional view of the strip | belt-shaped electrode in 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 3 of the liquid crystal device in 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 3 of the liquid crystal device in 4th embodiment of this invention. (A)-(c) is an expanded sectional view of the strip | belt-shaped electrode in the 1st modification of 4th embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing equivalent to FIG. 3 of the liquid crystal device in the 2nd modification of 4th embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of a mobile phone. It is a top view equivalent to FIG. 2 of 1st embodiment which shows the 1st modification of a pixel electrode. It is a top view equivalent to FIG. 2 of 1st embodiment which shows the 2nd modification of a pixel electrode. (A) is sectional drawing of the conventional liquid crystal device, (b) is an expanded sectional view of the conventional strip electrode.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1 ′ liquid crystal device, 11, 11 ′, 11 ″ pixel electrode (first electrode), 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e strip electrode, 11s side surface (inclined portion), 1 element substrate (substrate), 22 counter substrate ( Substrate), 23 liquid crystal layer, 33 interelectrode insulating film, 34 alignment film, 35, 35c, 35d, 35e convex part, 36 insulating film, 37 substrate side convex part, 38, 38c, 38d, 38e concave part, 39 substrate side concave part , 41 Common electrode (second electrode), 100 Mobile phone (electronic device), W2, Wc2, Wd2, We2 width

Claims (4)

A first electrode and a second electrode are provided on one of a pair of substrates sandwiching the liquid crystal layer, and liquid crystal molecules constituting the liquid crystal layer are formed by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode. A liquid crystal device to be driven,
An alignment film in contact with the liquid crystal layer is formed on the first electrode,
The first electrode includes a strip electrode formed in a strip shape,
The cross-sectional shape orthogonal to the extending direction of the strip electrode has an inclined portion formed at an end of a side in the extending direction. An interelectrode insulating film is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode,
Convex portions or concave portions are formed on the surface of the interelectrode insulating film,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the strip electrode is formed on a surface of the convex portion or the concave portion. The second electrode is formed on the surface of the insulating film formed on the one substrate,
On the second electrode, the interelectrode insulating film is formed,
In the formation region of the strip electrode on the surface of the insulating film, a substrate-side convex portion or a substrate-side concave portion is formed,
The liquid crystal device according to claim 2, wherein the convex portion or the concave portion is formed along the shape of the substrate side convex portion or the substrate side concave portion, respectively.   An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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