U.S. patent application number 10/819190 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-30 for liquid crystal display device.
Invention is credited to Abe, Hidetoshi, Kawachi, Genshiro, Kondo, Katsumi, Ohta, Masuyuki, Ohwada, Junichi, Sasaki, Tohru, Suzuki, Kenichi, Terao, Hiromu.
Application Number | 20040189923 10/819190 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26341630 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040189923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kondo, Katsumi ; et
al. |
September 30, 2004 |
Liquid crystal display device
Abstract
A liquid crystal display device having a pair of substrates and
a liquid crystal layer interposed between the pair of substrates.
One of the pair of substrates includes a plurality of scanning
electrodes, a plurality of signal electrodes, a plurality of thin
film transistors arranged in the vicinity of crossing points of the
scanning electrodes and the signal electrodes, a plurality of
common electrodes, and a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged
between each of the common electrodes. The other of the pair of
substrates has color filters, an insulating film for flattening the
color filters directly arranged on the color filters, and an
orientation control film arranged on the insulating film.
Inventors: |
Kondo, Katsumi;
(Katsuta-shi, JP) ; Terao, Hiromu; (Mito-shi,
JP) ; Abe, Hidetoshi; (Katsuta-shi, JP) ;
Ohta, Masuyuki; (Katsuta-shi, JP) ; Suzuki,
Kenichi; (Oxford, GB) ; Sasaki, Tohru;
(Hitachi-shi, JP) ; Kawachi, Genshiro;
(Hitachi-shi, JP) ; Ohwada, Junichi; (Mobara-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI, TERRY, STOUT & KRAUS, LLP
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
SUITE 1800
ARLINGTON
VA
22209-9889
US
|
Family ID: |
26341630 |
Appl. No.: |
10/819190 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10819190 |
Apr 7, 2004 |
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10046825 |
Jan 17, 2002 |
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6724455 |
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10046825 |
Jan 17, 2002 |
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09543337 |
Apr 5, 2000 |
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6341004 |
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09543337 |
Apr 5, 2000 |
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08908184 |
Aug 7, 1997 |
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6124915 |
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08908184 |
Aug 7, 1997 |
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08744451 |
Nov 6, 1996 |
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5737051 |
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08744451 |
Nov 6, 1996 |
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08123472 |
Sep 20, 1993 |
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5598285 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/141 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 2201/122 20130101;
G02F 1/1368 20130101; G02F 2201/128 20130101; G02F 1/136213
20130101; G02F 1/134363 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/141 |
International
Class: |
G02F 001/1343 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 18, 1992 |
JP |
4-249938 |
Jan 20, 1993 |
JP |
5-7355 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid crystal display device comprising: a pair of
substrates; a liquid crystal layer interposed between said pair of
substrates; wherein one of said pair of substrates comprises: a
plurality of scanning electrodes; a plurality of.signal electrodes
arranged so as to cross said plurality of scanning electrodes; a
plurality of thin film transistors arranged in the vicinity of
crossing points of said scanning electrodes and said signal
electrodes, a plurality of common electrodes, and a plurality of
pixel electrodes arranged between each of said common electrodes;
wherein an electric field is formed in said liquid crystal layer by
applying a voltage to said pixel electrodes and said plurality of
common electrodes; and the other substrate of said pair of
substrates comprises: color filters, an insulating film for
flattening said color filters arranged on said color filters, and
an orientation control film arranged on said insulating film,
wherein said orientation control film is arranged directly onto
said insulating film.
2. A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
all electrodes of said liquid crystal display device are arranged
onto said one of said pair of substrates.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/046,825, filed Jan. 17, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/543,337, filed Apr. 5, 2000, now U.S. Pat.
No. 6,341,003, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
08/908,184, filed Aug. 7, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,124,915, which
is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/744,451, filed
Nov. 6, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,051, which is a continuation
of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/123,472, filed Sep. 20, 1993, now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,285, the subject matter of which is
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display
device having at least one, and preferably a plurality of pixel
elements.
[0003] In a standard liquid crystal display device, the pixel
element is formed in a liquid crystal layer (normally common to the
pixel elements) extending in a plane, and there is at least one
polarizing arrangement parallel to the plane of the liquid crystal
layer. By applying electrical signals to the liquid crystal layer
using suitable electrodes, it is possible to vary the angle of
polarization of polarized light passing through the liquid crystal
layer, and thereby to vary the optical transmissivity of a liquid
crystal display device with the change in polarization relative to
the polarizing arrangement. Normally, in such a liquid crystal
display device, the polarizing arrangement is formed by two
polarizing plates, one on each side of the liquid crystal layer,
but it is also possible to provide an arrangement with a single
polarizing plate on one side of the liquid crystal layer and a
reflective element on the other side of the liquid crystal
element.
[0004] In standard liquid crystal display devices, electrical
fields are generated by electrodes arranged perpendicular to the
plane of the liquid crystal layer. Therefore, if the change in the
liquid crystal layer due to the electric fields is to be visible,
the size of those electrodes needs to be large; and, therefore, it
is necessary to use transparent electrodes. Furthermore, at least
two layers are normally needed between the transparent electrodes
on each side of the liquid crystal layer and the liquid crystal
layer itself. One such layer forms an orientation layer for the
liquid crystal layer, but a further insulating layer is then needed
between the orientation layer and the transparent electrode.
[0005] In International Patent Application No. PCT WO91/10936, a
liquid crystal display device was disclosed in which electrical
signals were applied to the liquid crystal layer so as to generate
electric fields having components in a direction parallel to the
plane of the liquid crystal layer. Such parallel field components
cause reorientation of the molecules of the liquid crystal layer,
thereby varying the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal
display device.
[0006] In PCT WO91/10936, it was proposed that the electrodes for
applying such field were, for each pixel element, in the form of
combs, the teeth of the comb formed by one electrode extending into
the spaces between the teeth of the comb formed by the other
electrode. The teeth of each electrode were electrically connected
in common, and a voltage was applied between the electrodes.
[0007] JP-B-63-21907 (1988) also disclosed a liquid crystal display
device in which electrical signals were applied to the liquid
crystal layer so as to generate electric fields having components
in a direction parallel to the plane of the liquid crystal layer.
As in PCT WO91/10936, the electrodes for applying such fields were,
for each pixel element, in the form of combs. Use of comb-shaped
electrodes was also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,249.
[0008] In each of these known arrangements, each pixel element has
first and second electrodes of comb shape, with the teeth of one
comb extending between the teeth of the other comb. Voltages are
then applied to the electrodes by a suitable control circuit. It is
important to note that the teeth of the comb-shaped electrodes are
not electrically independent, so that the size of the pixel is
determined by the size of the comb-shaped electrode.
[0009] The principles of operation of such devices, with comb
shaped electrodes, is also discussed in an article entitled "Field
Effects In Nematic Liquid Crystals Obtained With Interdigital
Electrodes" by R. A. Soref in the Journal of Applied Physics, pages
5466 to 5468, vol. 45, no. 12 (December 1974), and in an article
entitled "Interdigital Twisted-Nematic-Displays" by R. A. Soref,
published in the Proceedings of the IEEE, pages 1710 to 1711
(December 1974).
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0010] In the standard liquid crystal display devices discussed
above, it is necessary to use transparent electrodes, which are
formed on facing surfaces of two substrates. However, in order to
form such transparent electrodes, it is necessary to use a vacuum
manufacturing operation, such as sputtering, and thus the cost of
manufacture of such standard liquid crystal display devices is
high. Furthermore, it has been found that such transparent
electrodes have vertical geometrical irregularities, of the order
of several tens of nanometers, which prevents precise manufacture
of active devices, such as thin film transistors needed to control
the signals to the electrodes. Also, it has been found that parts
of such transparent electrodes may become detached, to cause point
or line defects. Thus, it has proved difficult to manufacture
liquid crystal devices both reliably and cheaply.
[0011] Such conventional liquid crystal display devices also have
disadvantages in terms of picture quality. The problem of vertical
geometrical irregularities in the transparent electrodes has been
mentioned above, but similar irregularities around the controlling
transistors may result in orientation failure domains being formed,
requiring a light shielding film to cover such transistor devices,
reducing the light utilization efficiency of the liquid crystal
device. Also, such conventional liquid crystal display devices have
the disadvantage that there is a significant change in brightness
when the visual angle is changed, and reversion of some gradation
levels can occur in a half-term display, at some view angles.
[0012] Although the use of comb shaped electrodes, such as
previously discussed, involves the need for transparent electrodes,
further problems have been found. While the use of such comb-shaped
electrodes offers theoretical advantages, those are limited by
practical consideration which have to be taken into account when
the comb-shaped electrodes are used. If the teeth of such
comb-shaped electrodes have a width of 1 to 2 micrometers,
satisfactory practical operation can be achieved. However, it is
extremely difficult to form such fine teeth over a large substrate
without defects. Thus, in practice, the aperture factor of the
liquid crystal display device is reduced, because of the need to
provide relatively wide electrode teeth. There is thus a trade-off
between aperture factor and production yield, which is
undesirable.
[0013] Therefore, the present invention seeks to provide a liquid
crystal display device which is more suitable for mass production
than the known liquid crystal display devices discussed above. The
present invention has several aspects.
[0014] In the liquid crystal display device according to the
present invention there are features which are common to all the
aspects. The device has a liquid crystal layer, and at least one
polarizing arrangement, which is normally provided in the form of a
pair of polarizing plates disposed on opposite sides of the liquid
crystal layer. The device has at least one, and normally a
plurality, of pixel elements and there are electrodes which receive
electrical signals for controlling the optical transmissivity of
light through the device. As in e.g. JP-B-63-21907 (1988) discussed
above, the electrical signals are applied such that electrical
fields are generated in the liquid crystal layer with components
parallel to the plane of the liquid crystal layer. The various
aspects of the present invention, which will be discussed below,
then relate to the electrode arrangement of a pixel element(s) and
also to the materials and optical arrangements of the materials of
the liquid crystal display device.
[0015] In a first aspect of the present invention, each pixel
element has a pixel electrode extending in a first direction within
the pixel, and there are also signal wiring electrodes extending in
the same direction over several of the pixel elements. There are
also common electrodes extending in that first direction over more
than one of the pixel elements.
[0016] There may be a pair of pixel electrodes for each pixel
element, with the signal wiring electrodes then extending between a
pair of pixel electrodes at each pixel element. There is then a
pair of common electrodes, with the pair of pixel electrodes being
disposed therebetween, so that electrical fields are generated in
opposite directions for each pixel element.
[0017] Preferably, all the electrodes are on the same side of the
liquid crystal layer. Arrangements are also possible, however, in
which the common electrodes are on the opposite side of the liquid
crystal layer formed the other electrodes. In either case, if there
is insulating material between the common electrode and the pixel
electrode for each pixel element, a capacitive device may be formed
therebetween.
[0018] In practice, it is possible for the common electrodes to be
provided in common for two adjacent pixel elements, by interacting
with pixel electrodes on opposite sides of each common
electrode.
[0019] In a second aspect of the present invention, each pixel can
be considered to have a elongate transistor element extending in a
first direction, that elongate transistor element having at least
one elongate electrode. There is also at least one elongate common
electrode extending in the same direction as the elongate
transistor element. In the second aspect, an insulating film
separates the at least one elongate electrode of the elongate
transistor element and the at least one common electrode.
[0020] In a third aspect of the present invention, each pixel has
again an elongate transistor element extending in one direction,
and at least one elongate common electrode extending in the same
direction. The elongate transistor element has at least one
elongate electrode, and there is an insulating film extending over
and in direct contact with that at least one elongate electrode.
That insulating film is also in direct contact with the liquid
crystal layer. Preferably, that insulating film is an organic
polymer.
[0021] In a fourth aspect of the present invention, each pixel can
be considered to have a transistor element with a pair of first
electrodes (pixel electrodes), a signal electrode between the first
electrodes, and a gate electrode. The first and second electrodes
extend in a common direction, as do a pair of common electrodes. A
transistor element is then (in plan) disposed between the pair of
common electrodes. As has previously been mentioned, the common
electrodes and the transistor element may be on the same side of
the liquid crystal layer, or they may be on opposite sides.
[0022] In a fifth aspect, for any one pixel element, each one of
said pairs of common electrodes thereof forms a corresponding one
of said pair of common electrodes for pixel elements adjacent to
said any one pixel element.
[0023] The five aspects of the present invention discussed above
all relate to an electrode arrangement of the liquid crystal
display device. The aspects of the invention to be discussed below
relate to the optical arrangement and materials of the liquid
crystal display device.
[0024] In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the angles
between components of electric fields in a direction parallel to
the plane of said liquid crystal layer and the direction of
orientation of molecules at opposite surfaces of the liquid crystal
layer are the same, and the product of the thickness of the liquid
crystal layer and the refractive index anisotropy of the liquid
crystal layer is between 0.21 .mu.m and 0.36 .mu.m.
[0025] In a seventh aspect of the present invention, the absolute
value of the difference between the angles between components of
electric fields in a direction parallel to the plane of said liquid
crystal layer and the direction of orientation of molecules at
opposite surfaces of the liquid crystal layer is not less than
80.degree. and not greater than 100.degree., and the product of the
thickness of the liquid crystal layer and the refractive index
anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is between 0.4.mu.m and
0.6.mu.m.
[0026] In an eighth aspect of the present invention, the dielectric
constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is positive, and
the absolute value of the angle between components of the electric
fields in a direction parallel to the plane of said liquid crystal
layer and the direction of orientation of molecules at the surface
of the liquid crystal layer is less than 90.degree., but not less
than 45.degree..
[0027] In a ninth aspect of the present invention, the dielectric
constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is negative, and
the absolute value of the angle between components of the electric
fields in a direction parallel to the plane of said liquid crystal
layer and the direction of orientation of molecules at the surface
of the liquid crystal layer is greater than 0.degree., but not
greater than 45.degree..
[0028] In a tenth aspect of the present invention, the dielectric
constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is positive, and
the value of the difference between: i) the angle between
components of the electric fields in a direction parallel to the
plane of said liquid crystal layer and the direction of orientation
of molecules at the surface of the liquid crystal layer; and ii)
the angle of the polarization axis of said at least one polarizing
plate and said components of the electric fields in a direction
parallel to the plane of said liquid crystal layer, is 3.degree. to
15.degree..
[0029] In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the
dielectric constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer is
negative, and the value of the difference between i) the angle of
the polarization axis of said at least one polarizing plate and
said components of the electric fields in a direction parallel to
the plane of said liquid crystal layer, and ii) the angle between
components of the electric fields in a direction parallel to the
plane of said liquid crystal layer and the direction of orientation
of molecules at the surface of the liquid crystal layer, is
3.degree. to 15.degree..
[0030] In a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the direction
of orientation of molecules of said liquid crystal layer at a
surface of said liquid crystal layer parallel to the plane of said
liquid crystal layer and said surface is not more than
4.degree..
[0031] Although various aspects of the present invention have been
discussed above, a liquid crystal display device embodying the
present invention may incorporate combinations of such aspects.
Depending on the resulting combination, the present invention
provides advantages in the manufacture and/or operation of.a liquid
crystal display device, and these advantages will be discussed in
more detail later.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0033] FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d) are schematic diagrams illustrating the
behavior of liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystal display
device according to the present invention;
[0034] FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are plan and sectional views,
respectively, of an embodiment, showing the structure of a thin
film transistor, which may be used in the present invention;
[0035] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are graphs illustrating electro-optical
characteristics (visual angle dependence), FIG. 3(a) corresponding
to the present invention and FIG. 3(b) corresponding to a
comparative example;
[0036] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which
the pixel electrode (source electrode), the common electrode, the
scanning electrode, and the signal electrode (drain electrode) are
all arranged on only one of the substrates of the device;
[0037] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are plan and sectional views,
respectively, of an embodiment of the present invention in which
the pixel electrode (source electrode) and the signal electrode
(drain electrode) are arranged at the center of the pixel to divide
the pixel into two parts;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the angles formed by the
long axis orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules at
the interface of the polarizing axis of the polarizing plate, and
the phase advance axis of the phase difference plate, with respect
to the direction of the electric field;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the electro-optical
characteristics of various embodiments with different orientation
directions of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules at the
interface when the dielectric constant anisotropy is positive;
[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a liquid crystal display
driving system which may be used in the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the present invention
applied to a liquid crystal display transmission type optical
system;
[0042] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the present invention
applied to a liquid crystal display reflection type optical
system;
[0043] FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the electro-optical
characteristics of various embodiments with different orientation
directions of the long axis of the liquid crystal molecules at the
interface when the dielectric constant anisotropy is negative;
[0044] FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b) are graphs illustrating the
electro-optical characteristics of various embodiments with
different thicknesses d of the liquid crystal layer when the
dielectric constant anisotropy is negative;
[0045] FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) are graphs illustrating the
electro-optical characteristics of embodiments in which polarizing
plates are arranged so that the dark state can be obtained by
applying a small non-zero electric field;
[0046] FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the characteristics of a
normally open type device and the characteristics when its residual
phase difference at the interface is compensated;
[0047] FIG. 15(a) is a plan view and FIGS. 15(b) and 15(c) are
sectional views of a fourth embodiment in which a capacitive device
is formed between a common electrode and the pixel electrode on the
respective facing interfaces of the substrates;
[0048] FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of a pixel when no electric
field is applied, for a fifth embodiment of the present invention
in which the pixel electrode and the common electrode are arranged
at different layers separated by an insulating layer;
[0049] FIG. 17 is a schematic cross sectional view of a pixel when
no electric field is applied in the fifth embodiment in which the
pixel electrode and the common electrode are arranged at different
layers separated by an insulating layer;
[0050] FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view of a pixel when no electric
field is applied in a sixth embodiment of the present invention in
which the pixel electrode and the common electrode are arranged at
different layers separated by an insulating layer, the pixel
electrode being a closed loop and the common electrode being
cruciform;
[0051] FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view of a pixel when no electric
field is applied in a seventh embodiment of the present invention
in which the pixel electrode and the common electrode are arranged
at different layers separated by an insulating layer, the pixel
electrode having the shape of the letter I and the common electrode
being a closed loop;
[0052] FIG. 20 is a schematic cross sectional view of part of a
pixel when no electric field is applied in an eighth embodiment of
the present invention in which the pixel electrode and the common
electrode are arranged at different layers separated by an
insulating layer, and there is an insulating layer between the
scanning electrode and the common electrode;
[0053] FIG. 21 is a schematic cross sectional view of part of a
pixel when no electric field is applied in a ninth embodiment of
the present invention in which the pixel electrode and the common
electrode are arranged at different layers separated by an
insulating layer, and the common electrode is formed on the
protection insulating film; and
[0054] FIG. 22 is a schematic cross sectional view of part of a
pixel when no electric field is applied in a tenth embodiment of
the present invention in which the pixel electrode and the common
electrode are arranged at different layers separated by an
insulating layer, and both the scanning electrode and the common
electrode are made from aluminum coated with self-oxidized
film.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] Before describing embodiments of the present invention, the
general principles underlying the present invention will be
explained.
[0056] First, suppose that the angle of a polarized light
transmission axis of the polarized plate with respect to the
direction of the electric field is .phi..sub.P, the angle of the
longitudinal axis (optical axis) of liquid crystal molecules near
the interface with respect to the electric field is .phi..sub.LC,
and the angle of the phase advance axis of the phase difference
plate inserted between the pair of polarizing plates with respect
to the electric field is .phi..sub.R, as shown in FIG. 6. Because
there are normally pairs of polarizing plates and liquid crystal
interfaces, i.e. upper and lower plates and interfaces, these are
represented as .phi..sub.P1, .phi..sub.P2, .phi..sub.LC1 and
.phi..sub.LC2. FIG. 6 corresponds to a top view of FIG. 1, to be
described later.
[0057] Next, the operation of embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d).
[0058] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are side cross sections showing the
operation of a liquid crystal display device according to the
present invention. FIGS. 1(c) and 1(d) are front views of the
liquid crystal display device. In FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d), the thin film
transistor device is omitted. In this invention, stripes of
electrodes are used to form a plurality of pixels, but FIGS. 1(a)
to 1(d) show the structure of only one pixel (one cell). The side
cross section of the cell when no voltage is applied is shown in
FIG. 1(a), and the top view is shown in FIG. 1(c).
[0059] Linear electrodes 1, 2, are formed on the inner sides of
paired transparent substrates 3, over which an orientation control
film 4 is applied and subjected to an orientation processing. A
liquid crystal is held between the paired substrates 3. Bar shaped
liquid crystal molecules 5 of the liquid crystal are oriented so
that they are at a slight angle to the longitudinal direction of
the electrodes 1, 2, i.e. 45 degrees.ltoreq..phi..sub.LC<90
degrees, when no electric field is applied. This discussion assumes
that the orientation directions of the liquid crystal molecules on
the upper and lower interfaces are parallel to each other, i.e.
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2. It is also assumed that the dielectric
constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal is positive.
[0060] When an electric field 7 is applied, the liquid crystal
molecules 5 change their directions and are aligned with the
direction of the electric field 7, as shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 1(d).
By arranging the polarizing plates 6 at a specified angle 9, it is
possible to change the light transmission factor when the electric
field is applied. Thus, it is possible to provide a display having
a contrast without using transparent electrodes.
[0061] In FIG. 1(b), the angle between the substrate surface and
the direction of the electric field looks large and it seems not to
be parallel to the substrates. In reality this is the result of
magnifying the thickness direction in FIG. 1(b) to facilitate
illustration, and the angle is actually less than 20 degrees.
[0062] In the following description, the electric fields having an
inclination of less than 20 degrees are generally referred to as
lateral electric fields. FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) show an arrangement in
which the electrodes 1, 2, are provided separately on the upper and
lower substrates, respectively. However, it is possible to arrange
them on one substrate and produce the same effect. Because the
wiring pattern is very fine and may therefore deform due to heat
and/or external forces, arranging the electrodes on a single
substrate is preferable because it permits a more precise
alignment.
[0063] Although the dielectric constant anisotropy of the liquid
crystal is assumed to be positive, it may be negative. In that
case, the initial orientation of the liquid crystal is set so that
the liquid crystal molecules have a slight angle
.vertline..phi..sub.LC.vertline. (i.e. 0
degree<.vertline..phi..sub.LC.vertline..ltoreq.45 degrees) with
respect to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
of the electrodes 1, 2, (the direction of the electric field
7).
[0064] Advantages which may thus be achieved with the present
invention will now be explained. (1) The first advantage is that
enhanced contrast may be achieved without using transparent
electrodes.
[0065] There are two types of structure for producing contrast. The
one utilizes a mode in which the orientations of the liquid crystal
molecules 5 on the upper and lower substrates 3 are almost parallel
to each other (since color interface by birefringent phase
difference is used, this mode is called a birefringent mode). The
other structure has a mode in which the orientations of the liquid
crystal molecules S on the upper and lower substrates 3 cross each
other, twisting the molecular orientation in the cell (since light
spiraling produced by rotation of the polarization plane in the
liquid crystal composition layer is used, this mode is called a
light spiraling mode).
[0066] In the birefringent mode, when a voltage is applied, the
molecular long axis 8 (optical axis) changes its direction in a
plane almost parallel to the substrate interface, changing its
angle with respect to the axis of a polarized plate (not shown in
FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)) which is set at a specified angle. This
results in a change in the light transmission factor.
[0067] In the light spiraling mode, the application of a voltage
similarly changes only the direction of the molecular long axis in
the same plane. This mode, however, utilizes a change in the light
spiraling as the spiral is unraveled.
[0068] Next, a structure for making the display colorless and
increasing the contrast ratio will be explained below for two
cases: one using the birefringent mode and the other using the
light spiraling mode. II. Displaying in the birefringent mode:
generally, when a uniaxial birefringent medium is inserted between
two orthogonal polarizing plates, the light transmission factor,
T/T.sub.0, is expressed as follows.
T/T.sub.0=sin.sup.2(2.sub..chi.eff).multidot.sin.sup.2(.pi.d.sub.eff.multi-
dot..DELTA.n/.lambda.) Equation (1)
[0069] In Equation 1, .chi..sub.eff is the effective direction of
the light axis of liquid crystal composition layer (an angle
between the light axis and the polarized light transmission axis),
d.sub.eff, is the effective thickness of the liquid crystal
composition layer having birefringence, .DELTA.n is the refractive
index anisotropy or the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer,
and .lambda. is the wave length of the light. In an actual cell the
liquid crystal molecules are fixed at the interface and not all the
liquid crystal molecules in the cell are parallel and uniformly
oriented in one direction when an electric field is applied.
Instead, they are significantly deformed particularly near the
interface. It is therefore convenient to assume an apparent uniform
state as the average of these states. In Equation 1, an effective
value is used for the light axis direction of the liquid crystal
composition layer.
[0070] To obtain a normally closed characteristic in which the
display appears dark when a low voltage V.sub.L is applied and
bright when a high voltage V.sub.H is applied, the polarizing
plates should be arranged so that the light transmission axis (or
absorption axis) of one of the polarizing plates is almost parallel
to the orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules
(rubbing axis), i.e .phi..sub.P2--.phi..sub.LC1-- -.phi..sub.LC2.
The light transmission axis of the other light polarizing plate is
perpendicular to the first axis, i.e. .phi..sub.P2=.phi..sub.P1+-
90.degree.. When no electric field is applied, since .chi..sub.eff
in Equation 1 is zero, the light transmission factor T/T.sub.0 is
also zero. On the other hand, when an electric field is applied,
the value of .chi..sub.eff increases in dependence on the intensity
of the electric field and becomes maximum at 45 degrees. Then, if
the light wavelength is assumed to be 0.555 .mu.m, in order to make
the light colorless and the light transmission factor maximum, the
effective value of d.sub.eff.multidot..DELTA.n should be set to
half of the wavelength , i.e. 0.28 .mu.m. Actually, however, there
is a margin in the value, and values between 0.21 .mu.m and 0.36
.mu.m are suitable, with the values between 0.24 .mu.m and 0.33
.mu.m being preferred.
[0071] On the other hand, in order to obtain normally open
characteristics in which the display appears bright when a low
voltage V.sub.L is applied and dark when a high voltage V.sub.H is
applied, the polarizing plates should be arranged so that
.chi..sub.eff in Equation 1 is almost 45.degree. when no electric
field is applied or an electric field of low intensity is applied.
When an electric field is applied, the value .chi..sub.eff
decreases in dependence on the field intensity as opposed to the
case of the normally closed characteristic. However, because there
is a residual phase difference in the liquid crystal molecules
fixed near the interface even when .chi..sub.eff is minimum (i.e.
zero), a significant amount of light will leak under this
condition.
[0072] In an experiment conducted by the inventors of the present
invention, in which the value of d.multidot..DELTA.n was set
between 0.27 and 0.37 and an effective voltage of 3 to 10 volts was
applied, the residual phase difference on the interface was 0.02 to
0.06 .mu.m. Hence, by inserting a phase difference plate having a
birefringence phase difference of about 0.02 to 0.06 .mu.m (this
phase difference is represented as R.sub.f) to compensate for the
interface residual phase difference, the dark state becomes darker
giving a high contrast ratio. The angle .phi..sub.R of the phase
advance axis of the phase difference plate is set parallel to the
effective light axis .chi..sub.eff of the liquid crystal
composition layer when the voltage is applied.
[0073] To make the dark state be as black as possible, the angle of
the phase advance axis should be aligned precisely with the
residual phase difference that occurred when a voltage for
displaying a dark state is applied. Therefore, to make the dark
state compatible with the increased level of the transmission
factor and the lightness of the bright state, the following
relationship must be fulfilled
0.21 .mu.m<(d.multidot..DELTA.n-R.sub.f)<0.36 .mu.m Equation
(2)
[0074] Or more preferably,
0.23 .mu.m<(d.multidot..DELTA.n-R.sub.f)<0.33 .mu.m Equation
(3)
[0075] II. Displaying in the light spiraling mode: In a
conventional twisted nematic (TN) system, when the value of
d.multidot..DELTA.n is set to around 0.50 .mu.m, a first minimum
condition, a high transmission factor and colorless light may be
obtained. It has been found preferable to set the value in a range
from 0.40 to 0.60 .mu.m. The polarizing plates are arranged such
that the transmission axis (or absorbing axis) of one of the
polarizing plates is set almost parallel to the orientation
direction (rubbing axis) of the liquid crystal molecules on the
interface, i.e. .phi..sub.LC1--.phi..sub.LC2. To realize a normally
closed type device, the transmission axis of the other polarizing
plate is set parallel to the orientation direction of the liquid
crystal molecules; and, for a normally open type, the transmission
axis of the polarizing plate is set perpendicular to the
orientation direction.
[0076] To eliminate light spiraling, it is necessary to set the
orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules near the
upper and the lower substrate interfaces so that they are almost
parallel to each other. If a 90.degree. TN mode is assumed, the
liquid crystal molecules on one of the substrates must be turned
nearly 90.degree.. However, in displaying in the birefringence
mode, the liquid crystal molecules need only be turned about
45.degree.. Furthermore, the birefringence mode has a lower
threshold value. (2) The second advantage is that the visual angle
characteristics may be improved.
[0077] In the display mode, the long axes of the liquid crystal
molecules are almost parallel to the substrate at all times and do
not become perpendicular to the substrate, so that there is only a
small change in brightness when the visual angle is changed. This
display mode provides a dark state, not by making the birefringence
phase difference almost zero by applying a voltage as in the case
of a conventional display device, but by changing the angle between
the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules and the axis
(absorbing or transmission axis) of the polarizing plate. Thus, the
display mode of the present invention differs fundamentally from
that of the conventional device.
[0078] In a conventional TN type of liquid crystal display device
in which the long axes of the liquid crystal molecules are
perpendicular to the substrate interface, a birefringence phase
difference of zero is obtained only in a visual direction
perpendicular to the front or the substrate interface. Any
inclination from this direction results in a birefringence phase
difference, which means leakage of light in the case of the
normally open type, causing reduction of contrast and reversal of
tone levels. (3) The third advantage is that there is improved
freedom in the selection of the materials of the orientation film
and/or the liquid crystal, and so the margin for the related
process may thus be increased.
[0079] Since the liquid crystal molecules do not become erect, an
orientation film for providing a large inclination angle (the angle
between the long axis of the liquid crystal molecule and the
interface of the substrate), which was used in a conventional
device, is no longer necessary. In a conventional liquid crystal
display device, when the inclination angle becomes insufficient,
two states with different inclination directions and domains
bordering the two states occur, raising the possibility of a poor
display. Instead of having such an inclination angle, the display
system of the present invention may have the long axis direction of
the liquid crystal molecule (rubbing direction) on the substrate
interface set in a specified direction different from 0.degree. or
90.degree. with respect to the electric field direction.
[0080] For example, when the dielectric constant anisotropy of the
liquid crystal is negative, the angle between the electric field
direction and the long axis direction of the liquid crystal
molecule on the substrate interface .phi..sub.LC
(.phi..sub.LC>0) should exceed 0.degree., and normally should be
more than 0.5.degree., preferably more than 2.degree.. If the angle
is to be set at exactly 0.degree., two kinds of deformations with
different directions, and domains of two different states and their
bordering are generated, and a possibility of deterioration in
display quality occurs. If the angle is set to more than
0.5.degree., the apparent long axis direction of the liquid crystal
molecule (.phi..sub.LC(V)) increases uniformly with increasing
intensity of the electric field, and there is no possibility of the
long axis being inclined in the reverse direction, i.e.
.phi..sub.LC(V)<0.
[0081] With this system, since no domains occur even if the angle
(inclination angle) between the interface and the liquid crystal
molecule is small, it is possible to set the angle to have a small
value. The smaller the inclination angle, the greater will be the
process margin for rubbing, improving the uniformity of the liquid
crystal molecule orientation. Hence, when the present process in
which an electric field is supplied in parallel to the interface
combines with a low inclination technique, the orientation of the
liquid crystal molecule becomes more uniform, and display
variations can be reduced much better than in a conventional
system, even if there are variations of the same magnitude in the
manufacturing process.
[0082] Generally, there are fewer kinds of orientation films that
produce a high inclination angle than those which produce a small
inclination angle. The present system increases the freedom in the
selection of the orientation film material. For example, when an
organic polymer is used for the flattening film disposed over the
color filters and for the protective film disposed over the thin
film transistors and is directly subjected to a surface orientation
processing, such as rubbing, an organic film can be used with ease
as the orientation film simultaneously because there is no need to
provide an inclination angle. Hence, it becomes possible to
simplify the process and to decrease the cost. In order to
eliminate display irregularities due to variations in the
manufacturing process, the inclination angle preferably is set
below 4.degree., and more preferably below 2.degree..
[0083] Furthermore, freedom in the selection of the liquid crystal
material can be increased. as will be explained below.
[0084] In accordance with the present invention, the pixel
electrodes and the common electrodes may have a structure in which
an electric field generally parallel to the interface of the
substrate is applied to the liquid crystal composition layer. The
distance between the electrodes can be chosen to be longer than the
distance between the mutually facing transparent electrodes of the
conventional vertical electric field active matrix type liquid
crystal display device. The equivalent cross sectional area of the
electrode can be made smaller than that of the conventional
arrangement. Hence, the electric resistance between the paired
pixel electrodes of the present invention can be significantly
larger than that of the mutually facing transparent electrodes of
the conventional active matrix liquid crystal display device.
[0085] Furthermore, the electrostatic capacitance between the pixel
electrode and the common electrode of the present invention can be
connected in parallel with capacitive devices, and the capacitive
device having a high electrical resistance can be achieved.
Therefore, the electrical charge accumulated in the pixel electrode
can be held with ease, and sufficient holding characteristics can
be achieved even if the area of the capacitive device is decreased.
This area reduces the aperture factor and therefore needs to be
small, if possible.
[0086] Conventionally the liquid crystal composition has an
extremely high specific resistance, for instance 10.sup.12
.OMEGA.cm. However, in accordance with the present invention, it is
possible to use a liquid crystal composition having a lower
specific resistance than the conventional one, without causing any
problems. That means not only increased freedom for selection of
the liquid crystal material, but also increases the margin for the
processing. In other words, a defect in display quality rarely
occurs even if the liquid crystal is contaminated during the
processing. Thus, the margin for the previously described variation
at the interface with the orientation film increases, and defects
caused at the interfaces are rare. Consequently, processes such as
inspection and ageing can be significantly simplified, and the
present invention can contribute significantly to a lowering in the
cost of thin film transistor type liquid crystal display
devices.
[0087] Because the present invention permits the pixel electrode to
have a more simple shape than the known comb shaped electrode, the
efficiency of utilization of the light is increased. It is not
necessary to sacrifice some of the aperture factor, as in
conventional methods for obtaining a capacitive device which can
accumulate a sufficient amount of electric charge. Replacement of
the insulator for protecting the thin film transistors with an
organic composition enables the dielectric constant to be lower
than that when an inorganic composition is used, making it possible
to suppress the electric field component generated in the vicinity
of the pixel electrode in a vertical direction to the interface of
the substrate to a value smaller than the electric field in a
lateral direction. This enables the liquid crystal to operate in a
wider region. It also contributes to an enhancement of brightness.
When the common electrode is used in common as the electrode for
adjacent pixel electrodes, it operates in the same way as the
common electrode in the conventional active matrix type liquid
crystal display device, but its structure can be simplified as
compared with conventional arrangements, and the aperture factor
can be further increased.
[0088] As there is increased freedom in the selection of materials
for the liquid crystal, the orientation film and the insulator, it
becomes possible to select insulating materials for the capacitive
devices so that the product of their specific resistance and the
dielectric constant is larger than that of the material of the
liquid crystal. Then, one vertical scanning period in the driving
signal output from the scanning wiring driving means can be set to
be shorter than the time constant expressed by a product of the
specific resistance and the dielectric constant of the insulator of
the capacitive devices. Hence, the voltage variation at the pixel
electrode can be reduced to a sufficiently small value. (4) The
fourth advantage is that a simple thin film transistor structure
having a high aperture factor can be achieved, permitting
enhancement of brightness.
[0089] Consider the structure of a pixel including a thin film
transistor, when comb shaped electrodes are used, as disclosed in
JP-B-63-21907 (1988). There is then the problem that the aperture
factor decreases significantly and the brightness is lowered. For
mass production, the necessary width of one tooth of the comb
shaped electrode is about 8 .mu.m, with a minimum of at least 4
.mu.m. Hence, it is impossible to form a pixel of 0.3.times.0.1
mm.sup.2 for a diagonal length 9.4-inch (23.9 cm) color VGA class
screen with a structure having a total of 17 teeth as shown in FIG.
7 of JP-B-63-21907 (1988).
[0090] The present invention permits a sufficient aperture factor
to be maintained, without losing the described advantages (1) and
(2) discussed above. Instead of structures, such as comb shaped
electrodes, which inevitably reduce the aperture factor, the more
simple structure of the electrode permits a practical high aperture
factor to be achieved.
[0091] The first aspect of the invention discussed above relates to
structures in which the common electrodes are formed on the
mutually facing interfaces of substrates, or the pixel electrodes
are formed on the same layer. In (JP-B-63-21907 (1988)), the
directions of the signal wiring and the common electrode cross over
at right angles to each other in order to form the comb shaped
electrodes. That is, the signal wiring extends in a first direction
(Y direction), and the common electrode extends in a direction
perpendicular to the first direction (X direction). On the other
hand, the present invention permits the avoidance of a complex
structure, such as comb shaped electrodes by having the signal
wiring, the pixel electrode and the common electrode all extending
in a common direction. In order to reduce the threshold voltage of
the liquid crystal and to shorten the response time, it is
preferable to make the interval between the pixel electrode and the
common electrode narrow. Locating the pixel electrode and the
signal wiring electrode between a pair of common electrodes is also
effective, and it is not necessary to use a complex structure, such
as a comb shaped electrode.
[0092] The second aspect of the present invention also permits the
structure to be simplified and the aperture factor increased by
providing the pixel electrode and the common electrode in different
layers separated from each other by an insulating layer. This
aspect of the present invention differs substantially from
JP-B-63-21907 (1988) in that the pixel electrode and the common
electrode are provided in separated layers. One advantage of this
is that the region for the additional capacitive device, which has
been reduced by use of the lateral electric field system, can be
further reduced. Thus, overlapping of the pixel electrode and the
common electrode separated by an insulating film becomes possible
because they are in separate layers, and the load capacitance can
be formed in the region of overlap. The overlapping parts can be
used as a part of the wiring for the common electrodes. Hence, it
is not necessary to sacrifice a part of the display in order to
form a capacitive device. Accordingly, the aperture factor for the
pixel can be further increased.
[0093] Depending on a design of each pixel, a plurality of
capacitive devices can be formed. Hence, the voltage holding
characteristics may be significantly improved, and deterioration of
the display quality rarely occurs, even if severe contamination of
the liquid crystal and lowering of the off-resistance of the thin
film transistor are experienced. Furthermore, the insulating film
formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode can be
commonly used in common as a gate insulating film of the scanning
wiring (gate line) in the same layer. Therefore, there is no need
to form a further film, and a process step for providing separate
layers is not necessary.
[0094] There are other advantages of the separate layers formed by
insertion of the insulating film between the pixel electrode and
the common electrode; for example, the probability of short-circuit
failures between the pixel and common electrodes can be reduced
significantly due to the existence of the insulating film
therebetween, and accordingly, the probability of pixel defects can
be reduced.
[0095] The common electrode and/or the pixel electrode, preferably
have shapes forming a pattern which makes the aperture factor as
large as possible. The pixel electrode or the common electrode has
any of a number of flat shapes, such as a ring, a cross, a letter
T, a letter .PI., a letter I and a ladder. By suitably combining
the selected shapes, the aperture factor can be increased
significantly, as compared with the case using comb shaped
electrodes.
[0096] Because the common electrode and the pixel electrode are in
separate layers with an insulating film therebetween, it becomes
possible to provide electrodes having shapes which overlap each
other. Hence, the present invention permits an increase in the
aperture factor. When the common electrode is composed of a
metallic electrode having a surface which is coated with
self-oxidized film or self-nitrized film, short-circuit failure
between the common electrode and the pixel electrode can be
prevented even if the two electrodes mutually overlap, so that the
high aperture factor and the prevention of pixel defects are
compatible.
[0097] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described
in detail.
[0098] Embodiment 1
[0099] In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2(a) and 2(b), two
glass substrates (not shown in FIG. 2(a) or 2(b) but as shown in
FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d)) were used which were polished on the surfaces
and 1.1 mm thick. Between these substrates was interposed a nematic
liquid crystal which had a positive dielectric constant anisotropy
.DELTA..epsilon. of 4.5 and a birefringence .DELTA.n of 0.072 (589
nm, 20.degree. C.). A polyimide orientation control film applied
over the substrate surface was subjected to a rubbing processing to
produce a pretilt angle of 3.5 degrees. The rubbing directions of
the upper and the lower interfaces were almost parallel and at an
angle of 85 degrees (.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2=85.de- gree.) with
respect to the direction of the applied electric field.
[0100] A gap d was formed by dispersing spherical polymer beads
between the substrates so that the gap became 4.5 .mu.m when the
liquid crystal was sealed. Hence, .DELTA.n.multidot.d was 0.324
.mu.m. The resulting structure was clamped by two polarizing plates
(not shown) (manufactured by e.g. Nitto Denko, with reference
G1220DU). One of the polarizing plates had its polarized light
transmission axis set almost parallel to the rubbing direction,
i.e. (.phi..sub.P1=85.degree.. The polarized light transmission
axis of the other polarizing plate was set perpendicular to the
former, i.e. .phi..sub.P2=-5.degree.. As a result, a normally
closed characteristic was obtained.
[0101] The structure of the thin film transistor and various
electrodes for one pixel element are as shown in FIG. 2(a) and FIG.
2(b), such that the thin film transistor device (hatched portion in
FIG. 2(a)) has a pixel electrode (source electrode) 1, a signal
electrode (drain electrode) 12, and a scanning electrode (gate
electrode) 10. The pixel electrode 1 extends in a first direction
(the vertical direction in FIG. 2), the signal electrode 12 and the
common electrodes 2 extend in the first direction so as to cross
over a plurality of pixels (the pixels being arranged vertically in
FIG. 2), and the thin film transistor device is located between the
common electrodes 2. The thin film transistor device is shielded
from light by a light shield member 18.
[0102] Signal waves having information are supplied to the signal
electrode 12, and scanning waves are supplied to the scanning
electrode 10 synchronously. A channel layer 16 composed of
amorphous silicon (aSi) and a thin film transistor formed from an
insulating protective film 15 of silicon nitride (SiN) are arranged
between adjacent common electrodes. Information signals are
transmitted from the signal electrode 12 to the pixel electrode 1
through the thin film transistor, and a voltage is generated
between the common electrode 2 and the liquid crystal 50.
[0103] In the present embodiment, the common electrodes 2 are
arranged at the facing interface side of the substrate and are
enlarged in the thickness direction in the illustration in FIG.
2(b). Therefore, although the electric field direction 7 shown in
FIG. 2(b) appears to be inclined relative to the horizontal, the
thickness of the liquid crystal layer 5 is actually about 6 .mu.m
as compared with the width of 48 .mu.m, so that the inclination is
very small and the supplied electric field direction is almost
parallel to the interface of the substrate.
[0104] A capacitive device 11 was formed in a structure in which
the protruded pixel electrode 1 and the scanning wiring 10 held a
gate insulating film 13 therebetween as shown in FIG. 2(b). The
electrostatic capacitance of the capacitive device 11 was about 21
fF. Each of the lines of the scanning wiring 10 and the signal
wiring 12 were connected to a scanning wiring driving LSI, and a
signal wiring driving LSI respectively.
[0105] Electric charge accumulates in the pixel electrode 1 to
about 24 fF, which is the capacitance of the parallel connection of
the electrostatic capacitance between the pixel electrode 1 and the
common electrode 2 and that of the capacitive device 11. Therefore,
even if the specific resistance of the liquid crystal 50 is
5.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA.cm, the voltage variation at the pixel
electrode 1 could be suppressed, and deterioration of the display
quality was prevented.
[0106] In this embodiment, the number of the pixels were
40(.times.3).times.30, and the pixel pitch was 80 .mu.m in a
lateral direction (i.e. between the common electrodes) and 240
.mu.m in a vertical direction (i.e. between the scanning
electrodes). A high aperture factor of e.g. 50% was obtained, with
the scanning electrode 10 being 12 .mu.m wide and the interval
between the adjacent scanning electrodes being 68 .mu.m. Three
stripe shaped color filters 17 forming respective red (R), green
(G) and blue (B) filters were provided on the substrate facing the
substrate supporting the thin film transistors.
[0107] A transparent resin 14 was laminated on the color filters 17
for surface flattening. The material of the transparent resin 14 is
preferably an epoxy resin. An orientation control film 4, e.g. of
the polyimide group, was applied to the transparent resin. A
driving circuit was connected to the panel.
[0108] The structure of the driving system in the present
embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. A signal electrode 23 and a common
electrode 31 extend to the end of the display portion. FIGS. 9 and
10 show the structure of the optical systems needed, FIG. 9 being
for a transmission type device and FIG. 10 being for a reflection
type device with a reflector 30.
[0109] As the present embodiment does not need any transparent
electrodes, the manufacturing process becomes simple, the
production yield increases, and the manufacturing cost can be
significantly reduced. In particular, there is no need for
extremely expensive facilities having vacuum furnaces for forming
the transparent electrodes, and there may thus be a significant
reduction in investment in the manufacturing facilities, permitting
an accompanying cost reduction.
[0110] The electro-optical characteristics representing the
relationship between the effective voltage applied to the pixels
and the brightness in the present embodiment are shown in FIG.
3(a). The contrast ratios exceeded 150 when driven by voltages of
e.g. 7 V. The difference between the characterizing when the visual
angle was changed laterally or vertically were significantly
smaller than in conventional system (to be discussed in comparative
example 1), and the display characteristics were not changed
significantly even if the visual angle was changed. The orientation
character of the liquid crystal was preferable, and domains of
orientation defects are not generated. The aperture factor
maintained a sufficiently high value, e.g. 50% by simplifying the
structure of the thin film transistor and the electrodes, and a
bright display was achieved. The average transmission factor for
the whole panel was 8.4%. It should be noted that the term
"brightness" is defined as the brightness of transmission when the
two polarizing plates are arranged in parallel.
[0111] The material of the liquid crystal 50 used in the first
embodiment had a dielectric constant of 6.7 and a specific
resistance of 5.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA.cm, and silicon nitride was
used for the insulator of the capacitive device 11 having a
dielectric constant of 6.7 and a specific resistance of
5.times.10.sup.16 .OMEGA.cm. That means that the specific
resistances of both the liquid crystal composition and the
insulator of the capacitive device 11 were over 10.sup.10
.OMEGA.cm, and the product of the dielectric constant and the
specific resistance of the silicon nitride, about 3.times.10.sup.4
seconds, was larger than the product of the dielectric constant and
the specific resistance of the liquid crystal composition, about
0.03 seconds. One vertical scanning period for the driving signal
output from the scanning wiring driving LSI was about 16.6 ms with
an ordinary liquid display device, and the value satisfied the
condition that the scanning period should be far less than about
3.times.10.sup.4 seconds. Therefore, it was possible to derive the
time constant for accumulated charge leaking from the pixel
electrode 1. This facilitates the suppression of voltage variations
at the pixel electrode 1, and consequently a satisfactory display
quality can be obtained. The value of 5.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA.cm
for the specific resistance of the liquid crystal is lower than
that for the liquid crystal used for the conventional vertical
electric field thin film transistor liquid display device, which is
about 10.sup.12 .OMEGA.cm. However, defects in the display quality
were not generated.
[0112] Comparison Example
[0113] The comparison example referred to above was based on a
conventional twisted nematic (TN) type of liquid crystal display
device. Since this example had a transparent electrode, the
structure was complex and the manufacturing process was long
compared with the first embodiment. The nematic liquid crystal used
in the comparison example had a dielectric constant anisotropy
.DELTA..epsilon. of positive 4.5 and a birefringence .DELTA.n of
0.072 (589 nm, 20.degree. C.), the same as those of the first
embodiment. The gap was set to 7.3 .mu.m and the twist angle to 90
degrees. Thus, .DELTA.n.multidot.d is 0.526 .mu.m.
[0114] The electro-optical characteristic of this comparison
example is shown in FIG. 3(b). The characteristic curves change
greatly as the visual angle changes. Near a stepped portion
adjacent to the thin-film transistor, an orientation failure domain
occurs where the liquid crystal molecules are oriented in a
direction different from that of the surrounding portion.
[0115] Embodiment 2
[0116] In the second embodiment, the scanning electrode which had
been arranged on the substrate facing the substrate supporting the
pixel in the first embodiment was formed on the same substrate as
the pixel electrode. The rest of the structure of the second
embodiment is generally the same as that of the first embodiment
and corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference
numerals. The cross section of the structure of the thin film
transistor and the electrodes in the second embodiment are shown in
FIG. 4. The pixel electrode 1, the signal electrode 12 and the
scanning electrode 10 were all made from aluminum, and were formed
simultaneously by being deposited and etched. There is no
conductive material on the other substrate. Hence, in this
structure, even if the conductive material is contaminated during
the manufacturing process, there is no possibility of upper and
lower electrodes touching each other, and so defects due to the
upper and lower electrodes touching is eliminated. There is no
special restriction on the material for the electrodes, but it
should normally be a metal having a low electrical resistance, and
so chromium, copper, etc. are thus suitable.
[0117] Generally, the precision of alignment of photomasks is
significantly higher than that for two facing glass substrates.
Therefore, variations in the alignment of the electrodes can be
suppressed when all of the four electrodes are formed on only one
of the substrates, as in the second embodiment, because alignment
of the electrodes during manufacturing can be only applied to
photomasks. Therefore, the present embodiment is suitable for
forming more precise patterns in comparison with the case when the
scanning electrode is formed on the other substrate.
[0118] A bright display having the same wide visual angle as the
first embodiment was obtained.
[0119] Embodiment 3
[0120] The structure of the third embodiment is generally the same
as the first embodiment 1 except as will be described below.
Components which correspond to components of the first embodiment
are indicated by the same reference numerals.
[0121] The structure of the thin film transistor and the various
electrodes of the third embodiment are shown in FIGS. 5(a) and
5(b). The signal electrode 12 was arranged between a pair of pixel
electrodes 1, and a pair of common electrodes 2 were arranged
outside the above electrodes. A signal wave having information is
applied to the signal electrode 12, and a scanning wave is applied
to the scanning electrode 10 synchronously with the signal wave. A
thin film transistor comprising amorphous silicon (a-Si) 16 and an
insulating-protecting film 15 of silicon nitride (SiN) are arranged
substantially centrally between a pair of common electrodes. The
same information signals are transmitted from the signal electrode
12 to each of two pixel electrodes 1 through two thin film
transistors, and the same voltage signals are applied to the liquid
crystal, each of two common electrodes at both sides having the
same potential. With this arrangement, the distance between the
electrodes can be decreased by almost a half without making the
structure of the thin film transistor and the electrodes complex.
It thus becomes possible to apply a high electric field with the
same voltage and to decrease the driving voltage. Hence, a high
response can be achieved.
[0122] This embodiment permits the same brightness and wide visual
angle to be achieved as in the first embodiment.
[0123] Embodiment 4
[0124] The structure of the fourth embodiment is generally the same
as the first embodiment except as will be described below.
Components of the fourth embodiment which correspond to the first
embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals.
[0125] FIG. 15(a) is a partial plan view of an active matrix type
liquid crystal display device forming the fourth embodiment. FIG.
15(b) is a cross sectional view taken on line XVB-XVB in FIG.
15(a), and FIG. 15(c) is a cross sectional view taken on line
XVC-XVC FIG. 15(a). The capacitive device 11 which has a structure
in which the gate insulating film made from silicon nitride 13 was
located between the pixel electrode 1 and the scanning wiring 10 in
the first embodiment 1 has been changed in this embodiment to a
structure in which the liquid crystal composition layer 50 extends
between parts of the pixel electrode 1 and the common electrode 2
which face each other, as shown in FIG. 15(c).
[0126] The fourth embodiment enables an electrostatic capacitance
of the capacitive device 11 to be connected in parallel to an
electrostatic capacitance between the pixel electrode 1 and the
common electrode 2. Hence, any voltage variation at the signal
wiring 10 does not affect the pixel electrode 1. Therefore, the
voltage variation at the pixel electrode 1 could be reduced,
reducing variations in the display.
[0127] There is no deterioration in display quality with the active
matrix type liquid crystal display device of this fourth the
present embodiment, and so the same advantages as the first
embodiment can be obtained
[0128] Embodiment 5
[0129] The structure of each of the fifth to tenth embodiments are
generally the same as the first embodiment, except as will be
described below. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same
reference numerals.
[0130] FIGS. 16 and 17 respectively show a plan view and a cross
sectional view of a unit pixel of the fifth embodiment, in which
the pixel electrode 1 and the common electrode 2 are located on the
same side of the liquid crystal material and are separated by an
insulating layer. A scanning electrode 10 and a common electrode 2
of chromium are formed on a glass substrate, and a gate insulating
film 13 of silicon nitride (SiN) is formed so as to cover the above
electrodes. An amorphous film (a-Si) 16 is formed on a part of the
scanning electrode 10 with the gate insulating film 13 therebetween
as an active layer of the transistor.
[0131] A signal electrode 12 and a pixel electrode 1 of molybdenum
are formed to overlap on a part of the pattern of the a-Si film 16,
and a protection and insulating film 15 of SiN film is formed so as
to cover the resulting structure. When the thin film transistor is
operated by applying a voltage to the scanning electrode 13 of the
thin film transistor, a voltage is applied to the pixel electrode
1. When an electric field is induced between the pixel electrode 1
and the common electrode 2 the liquid crystal molecules change
their orientation in the direction of the electric field and the
light transmission changes.
[0132] In the fifth embodiment, the common electrode 2 is formed on
the same layer as the scanning electrode 10, and the pixel
electrode 1 and the signal electrode 12 are separated from the
common electrode 2 by the gate insulating film 13. The device of
the fifth embodiment thus differs from that disclosed in
JP-B-63-21907 (1988), in that conventional comb shaped electrodes
are not used, and the pixel electrode 1 and the common electrode 2
overlap, with the gate insulating film 20 being disposed
therebetween. By separating the pixel electrode 1 and the signal
electrode 12 from the common electrode 2 by insulation, the design
freedom for the plan pattern of the pixel electrodes 1 and the
common electrodes 2 is increased, and it becomes possible to
increase the pixel aperture factor.
[0133] The overlapping parts of the pixel electrode 1 and the
common electrode 2 operate as an additional capacitance which is
connected in parallel to the liquid crystal capacitance, and
accordingly, it becomes possible to increase the holding ability of
the liquid crystal charged voltage. This advantage cannot be
achieved by a conventional comb shaped electrode, and the
advantages are achieved only by separating the pixel electrode 1
and the signal electrode 12 from the common electrode in an
insulating manner. As FIG. 16 reveals, it is not necessary to form
a capacitive device by sacrificing a part of the display region, as
in the case when the pixel electrode and the common electrode are
formed on the same substrate, and all that is needed is to provide
an overlap in a part of the wiring for leading out the common
electrode outside the display region.
[0134] As described above, since the design freedom for the plan
pattern increases by forming the pixel electrode 1 and the signal
electrode 12 in a separate layer from the layer having the common
electrode 2, various types and shapes of electrodes can be adopted
notwithstanding the present embodiment.
[0135] Embodiment 6
[0136] FIG. 18 shows a plan view of a unit pixel forming a sixth
embodiment of the present invention in which the pixel electrode 1
and the common electrode 2 are located in different layers
separated by an insulating layer. The cross sectional structure of
the sixth embodiment is the same as that of the fifth embodiment
(FIG. 17).
[0137] In the sixth embodiment, the common electrode 2 is cruciform
and the pixel electrode 1 forms a closed loop. The pixel electrode
1 and the common electrode 2 overlap at parts C1, C2, C3 and C4 in
FIG. 18, so as to form additional capacitances. In the sixth
embodiment, the distance between the common electrode 2 and the
scanning electrode 10 can be made wide, and thus failures due to
short circuits between the common electrode 2 and the scanning
electrode 10 can be prevented. Since the pixel electrode 1 is in
the form of a closed loop, normal operation can be maintained as
power is supplied to all parts of the pixel electrode even if a
breaking occurs at an arbitrary portion of the pixel electrode,
unless a break occurs at two or more parts. That means that the
structure of the sixth embodiment has a redundancy for breaking of
the pixel electrode 1 and the production yield can therefore be
increased. On account of the redundancy, it becomes possible to
reduce the wiring gap of the closed loop electrode 1, to make that
electrode 1 close to the wiring part of the scanning electrode 10
when they are arranged in different layers, thereby increasing the
aperture factor.
[0138] Embodiment 7
[0139] FIG. 19 shows a plan view of a unit pixel forming a seventh
embodiment of the present invention in which the pixel electrode 1
and the common electrode 2 are located in different layers
separated by an insulating layer. The cross sectional structure of
the seventh embodiment is the same as that of the fifth embodiment
(FIG. 17).
[0140] In the sixth embodiment, the pixel electrode 1 is in the
shape of a letter I, and the common electrode 2 is in the form of a
closed loop. In the seventh embodiment, the aperture factor can be
improved as in the sixth embodiment, and the additional capacitance
can be increased because the extent of the overlapping of the pixel
electrode 1 and the common electrode 2 can be increased.
[0141] Embodiment 8
[0142] FIG. 20 shows a plan view of a unit pixel forming an eighth
embodiment of the present invention in which the pixel electrode 1
and the common electrode 2 are located in different layers
separated by an insulating layer.
[0143] In the eighth embodiment, the common electrode 2 is mounted
on the substrate 3 and is separated from the scanning electrode 10
by a bedding layer insulating film 33. Thus, the common electrode 2
is located on the substrate 3 and is in a different layer separate
from the layers forming the scanning electrode 10, the pixel
electrode 1 and the signal electrode 12. Therefore, in accordance
with the eighth embodiment, it becomes possible for the common
electrode 2 to extend not only parallel to the Scanning electrode
10, but also perpendicular to the scanning electrode 10 to form a
network structure. Therefore, the resistance of the common
electrode 2 can be decreased, and accordingly, reductions of the
wave distortion in the common voltage and prevention of smear
generation can be achieved.
[0144] Embodiment 9
[0145] FIG. 21 shows a plan view of unit pixel forming a ninth
embodiment of the present invention in which the pixel electrode 1
and the common electrode 2 are located in different layers
separated by an insulating layer.
[0146] In the ninth embodiment, the common electrode 2 is mounted
on a protecting-insulating film 15. In accordance with the present
embodiment, the common electrode 2 is located in a different layer
separate from the layers forming all the scanning electrode 10, the
pixel electrode 1, and the signal electrode 12, as in the eighth
embodiment. Therefore, it is possible for the common electrode 2 to
extend not only parallel to the scanning electrode 10 but also
perpendicular direction to the scanning electrode 10 to form a
network structure. Accordingly, the resistance of the common
electrode 2 can be reduced, wave distortion in the common voltage
can be decreased, and smear generation can be prevented.
[0147] Embodiment 10
[0148] FIG. 22 shows a plan view of a unit pixel forming a tenth
embodiment of the present invention in which the pixel electrode 1
and the common electrode 2 are located in different layers
separated by an insulating layer.
[0149] In the tenth embodiment, the scanning electrode 10 and the
common electrode 2 are made from aluminum (Al), and surfaces of
those electrodes 2, 10 are covered by alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) 32,
which is a self-oxidized film of aluminum. The adoption of such a
structure having double insulating layers decreases the possibility
of failure of the insulation between the common electrode 2 the
signal electrode 12, and the pixel electrode 1, and accordingly,
pixel failure can be decreased.
[0150] Embodiment 11
[0151] The structure of the eleventh embodiment is generally the
same as the first embodiment except as will be described below.
Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference
numerals.
[0152] In the eleventh embodiment, a flattening film 14 (FIG. 2(b))
made from a transparent polymer is laminated on the color filters
27 as an organic insulating layer, and the surface of the film is
subjected to a direct rubbing treatment without forming other
films, such as an orientation control film on the flattening film
14. Epoxy resin is used for the material of the transparent film.
The epoxy resin has two functions, namely that of flattening and
orientation control of the liquid crystal molecules. The liquid
crystal composition layer is in direct contact with the epoxy
resin, and the inclination angle of the interface is 0.5
degrees.
[0153] This structure eliminates the need to provide an orientation
film, and makes the manufacturing easier and shorter.
[0154] Generally, in the conventional twisted nematic (TN) type, a
variety of characteristics are required for the orientation film,
and it was necessary to satisfy all of those requirements.
Therefore, the material for the orientation film was limited to a
small variety of materials, such as polyimide etc. The inclination
angle is the most important characteristic. However, as explained
previously, the present invention does not require a large
inclination angle, and thus the range of material selection is
significantly increased.
[0155] Measurement of electro-optical characteristics of the
eleventh embodiment revealed that, as in the first embodiment, the
change in the characteristic curves was extremely small when the
visual angle was changed laterally and vertically, and the display
characteristics hardly changed. Although the inclination angle was
as small as 0.5 degrees, the liquid crystal orientation was
satisfactory, and no orientation failure domain was generated.
[0156] Embodiment 12
[0157] In the twelfth embodiment, the transparent resin forming the
flattening film 14 in the eleventh embodiment is changed from epoxy
resin to polyimide resin. The surface of the polyimide resin is
directly rubbed so that it has both the function of flattening and
the function of orientation control of the liquid crystal
molecules. The inclination angle on the interface is 2 degrees. In
comparison with other embodiments, the display characteristics are
hardly changed. The liquid crystal orientation is satisfactory and
no orientation failure domain is generated.
[0158] Embodiment 13
[0159] The structure of the thirteenth embodiment is the same as
the first embodiment 1 except as will be described below.
Corresponding parts are indicated by the same numerals.
[0160] The protection film 15 (FIG. 2(b)) of silicon nitride for
protecting the thin film transistor in the first embodiment is
replaced with an organic insulating layer made from epoxy resin.
The surface of the epoxy resin is directly treated by rubbing so
that it functions both as a flattening film and an orientation
control film for the liquid crystal molecules. The inclination
angle is 0.5 degrees.
[0161] Measurement of the electro-optical characteristics of the
thirteenth embodiment revealed that the display characteristics
were hardly changed in comparison with the first embodiment 1.
Although the inclination angle was as small as 0.5 degrees, in the
eleventh embodiment, the liquid crystal orientation was
satisfactory, and no orientation failure domain was generated.
[0162] Embodiment 14
[0163] In the fourteenth embodiment, the epoxy resin used as the
protection film in the thirteenth embodiment is replaced with an
organic insulating layer made from polyimide resin.
[0164] Measurement of the electro-optical characteristics in the
fourteenth embodiment revealed that the display characteristics
were hardly changed in comparison with the first embodiment 1. The
inclination angle was slightly increased to 2.0 degrees in
comparison with the thirteenth embodiment. The liquid crystal
orientation was satisfactory, and no orientation failure domain was
generated.
[0165] Embodiments 15-19
[0166] The structure of the fifteenth to nineteenth embodiments are
the same as the fourteenth embodiment except as will be described
below.
[0167] In the fifteenth embodiment, the directions of the long axes
of the liquid crystal molecules on the upper and the lower
interfaces (the rubbing direction) are almost in parallel to each
other and are set at 89.5 degrees
(.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2=89.5.degree.) with respect to the
applied electric field. The polarized light transmission axis of
one of the polarizing plates is set almost in parallel to the
rubbing direction (.phi..sub.P1=89.5.degree.) and the polarized
light transmission axis of the other polarizing plate is set
perpendicular to the first axis (.phi..sub.P2=-0.5.degree.).
[0168] Similarly, in the sixteenth embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2- =.phi..sub.P1=88.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-2.0.degree..
[0169] Similarly, in the seventeenth embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.L- C2=.phi..sub.P1=75.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-25.degree..
[0170] Similarly, in the eighteenth embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC- 2=.phi..sub.P1=45.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-45.degree..
[0171] Similarly, in the nineteenth embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC- 2=.phi..sub.P1=30.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-60.degree..
[0172] The results of the measurement of the electro-optical
characteristics for these embodiments are shown in a single diagram
of FIG. 7. In these embodiments, the brightness is expressed by a
normalized value such that the maximum brightness in a range of
applied voltage from zero volt to 10 volts (effective value
V.sub.rms) is 100% and the minimum brightness is 0%. There is a
tendency for the characteristics curves at the threshold to become
steep as the angle .phi..sub.LC is increased. In order to provide a
large voltage margin for half-tone, the angle .phi..sub.LC must be
reduced. However, there is a tendency that when the angle
.phi..sub.LC is smaller than 45 degrees, the brightness decreased.
The optimum value of the angle .phi..sub.LC depends on the number
of the half-tone levels to be displayed, the requirement for
brightness, driving voltage, and whether or not the common
electrode has a voltage applied thereto. A designer can control the
threshold characteristics in a wide range by suitably selecting the
angle .phi..sub.LC. When considering brightness, the angle
.phi..sub.LC is preferably at least 45 degrees. An angle between 60
degrees and 89.5 degrees is more preferable.
[0173] Measurement of the visual angle characteristics revealed
that, in each case, the characteristics curve changed very slightly
when the visual angle was changed laterally and vertically, and the
display characteristics were hardly changed, as in the embodiment
1.
[0174] The liquid crystal orientation was satisfactory, and no
orientation failure domain was generated.
[0175] Embodiments 20-23
[0176] The greatest difference between the foregoing embodiments
previously described and the twentieth to twenty-third embodiments
is that the dielectric constant anisotropy of the liquid crystal
composition layer is set to be negative and the rubbing direction
is changed accordingly. A nematic liquid crystal (e.g. that known
as ZLI-2806 of Merck Co.) with a .DELTA..epsilon. of -4.8, and a
.DELTA.n of 0.0437 (589 nm, 20.degree. C.) is used. In the
twentieth to twenty-third embodiments, the directions of the long
axes of liquid crystal molecules on the upper and the lower
interfaces (the rubbing directions, (.phi..sub.LC1, .phi..sub.LC2)
are approximately parallel (.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2) to each
other and set at an angle, .phi..sub.LC1, exceeding zero degree and
less than 45 degrees with respect to the applied electric field.
The polarized light transmission axis of one of the polarizing
plates is set approximately parallel to the rubbing direction
(.phi..sub.P1) and the polarized light transmission axis of the
other polarizing plate is set perpendicular to the first axis
(.phi..sub.P2)
[0177] Thus, in the twentieth embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2=.phi- ..sub.P1=1.5.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-88.5.degree..
[0178] In the twenty-first embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2=.phi..s- ub.P1=15.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-75.degree.
[0179] In the twenty-second embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2=.phi..- sub.P1=30.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-60.degree.
[0180] In the twenty-third embodiment,
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC2=.phi..s- ub.P1=45.degree., and
.phi..sub.P2=-45.degree.
[0181] The gap d is set to be 6.3 .mu.m with the liquid crystal
under sealed conditions and the value of .DELTA.n.multidot.d is set
to be 0.275 .mu.m. Other conditions, such as the structure of the
thin film transistor and the electrodes, are the same as the third
embodiment.
[0182] The results of the measurement of the electro-optical
characteristics in these embodiments are shown in the single
diagram of FIG. 11. Unlike the case when the dielectric constant
anisotropy is positive, there is a tendency for the characteristic
curves of the threshold to become steep as the angle .phi..sub.LC
is decreased. In order to provide a large voltage margin for
half-tone, the angle .phi..sub.LC must be increased. However, there
is a tendency that when the angle .phi..sub.LC is larger than 45
degrees, the brightness decreased. As in the case when the
dielectric constant anisotropy is positive, the optimum value of
the angle .phi..sub.LC depends on the number of the half-tone
levels to be displayed, the requirement for brightness, driving
voltage, and whether or not the common electrode has a voltage
applied. A designer can control the threshold characteristics in a
wide range by suitably selecting the angle .phi..sub.LC. When
considering the brightness, the angle .phi..sub.LC is almost 45
degrees.
[0183] Measurement of the visual angle characteristics revealed
that, in each case, the characteristics curve changed very slightly
when the visual angle was changed laterally and vertically, and the
display characteristics were hardly changed, as in the first
embodiment. No reversions of levels in the half-tone display (8
steps) were observed in a range .+-.50 degrees both laterally and
vertically. The liquid crystal orientation was satisfactory, and no
orientation failure domain was generated.
[0184] Embodiments 24 to 26
[0185] In these embodiments, the directions of the long axes of
liquid crystal molecules and the arrangement of the polarizing
plates are set to be the same as the twenty-first embodiment, which
produced the best characteristics among the embodiments 20 to 23
.phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.LC- 2=.phi..sub.P1=15.degree., and
(.phi..sub.P2=-75.degree.). Only the product, d.multidot..DELTA.n,
of the thickness of the liquid crystal composition layer d and
refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n was changed. In the
twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth embodiments, the
thickness d of the liquid crystal composition layer was set to be
4.0, 4.9, and 7.2 .mu.m, respectively. Thus, the product,
d.multidot..DELTA.n, is 0.1748, 0.2141, and 0.3146 .mu.m,
respectively. In these embodiments, the refractive index anisotropy
.DELTA.n is a constant and only the thickness of the liquid crystal
composition layer d is changed. However, as well as the other type
of the liquid crystal display (such as the 90 degree twisted
nematic type), the same result for the optimum brightness can be
obtained even if the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n is
changed. Moreover, the same result can be obtained even if the
liquid crystal composition layer has a positive dielectric constant
anisotropy.
[0186] The results of the measurement in these embodiments are
shown in FIG. 12. The abscissa in FIG. 12(a) indicates applied
voltages, and the abscissa in FIG. 12(b) indicates
d.multidot..DELTA.n with the applied voltage being a constant 7
Volts. As FIG. 12(b) reveals, the brightness depends strongly on
d.multidot..DELTA.n and an optimum value exists. In order to
maintain a brightness of at least 30%, which is preferable for
practical use, the value of d.multidot..DELTA.n should be between
0.21 and 0.36 .mu.m; and further, if a brightness exceeding 50% is
desired, the value of d.multidot..DELTA.n between 0.23 and 0.33
.mu.m must be selected. In consideration of the sealing time for
the liquid crystal, thickness control of the liquid crystal
composition layer etc, and mass-production considerations, the
value for d must be at least 5.0 .mu.m, and a .DELTA.n of almost
0.08 is preferable.
[0187] Embodiments 27 to 29
[0188] As the results of the twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth
embodiments reveal, the optimum value of d.multidot..DELTA.n is
between 0.21 and 0.36 .mu.m, preferably between 0.23 and 0.33
.mu.m. Since the thickness of the liquid crystal composition layer
which is preferable for mass-production is at least 5.0 .mu.m, the
value of the refractive index anisotropy .DELTA.n must be almost
0.072, preferably almost 0.066. However, the kinds of liquid
crystal compounds having such an extremely low value for .DELTA.n
are very limited, and it is very difficult for them to be
compatible with other characteristics required for practical
use.
[0189] Therefore, a new method was considered in which the values
of d and .DELTA.n of the liquid crystal composition layer are set
rather higher than the optimum values, and an optically anisotropic
medium having a lower value for phase difference Rf than the value
for d.multidot..DELTA.n of the liquid crystal composition layer is
provided. This compensates for the departure from the optimum value
by the phase difference with the liquid crystal composition layer.
As a result, the effective phase difference which is generated by
the combination of the liquid crystal composition layer and the
optically anisotropic medium is in the optimum range between 0.21
and 0.36 .mu.m.
[0190] In the twenty-seventh to twenty-ninth embodiments, the
structure is the same as the third embodiment except as will be
described. The thickness of the liquid crystal composition layers
is set to be 5.0, 5.2, and 5.5 .mu.m, respectively. A nematic
liquid crystal composition having the refractive index anisotropy
.DELTA.n of 0.072 (589 nm, 20.degree. C.) is used, so that the
value for d.multidot..DELTA.n is 0.360, 0.3744, and 0.396 .mu.m,
respectively. As the brightness and color tone are higher than the
preferable range between 0.21 to 0.36 .mu.m, the liquid crystal
cell is colored orange. An optically anisotropic medium 28 (see
FIG. 9) of an uniaxially stretched film made from polyvinyl alcohol
is laminated over the liquid crystal cell so as to compensate for
the birefringent phase difference of the liquid crystal at a low
voltage driving condition (in these embodiments, zero volts).
Therefore, .phi..sub.R is selected to be 85 degrees, being the same
as .phi..sub.LC1 (=.phi..sub.LC2) The phase difference Rf is 0.07,
0.08, and 0.10 .mu.m, respectively, and the value for
(d.DELTA.n-Rf) is selected to be 0.29, 0.3044, and 0.296 .mu.m,
respectively, so as to be in the preferable range from 0.21 to 0.36
.mu.m for the brightness and the color tone.
[0191] As a result, a bright display having a brightness exceeding
50% without coloring could be obtain.
[0192] Embodiment 30
[0193] In the thirtieth embodiment, the liquid crystal composition
layer in the twenty-seventh embodiment is replaced with a nematic
liquid crystal composition (e.g. ZLI-4518 of Merck Co.) for which
the dielectric constant anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. is negative
with a value of -2.5, and its .DELTA.n is 0.0712 (589 nm,
20.degree. C.). The rest of the device is the same as the
twenty-first embodiment except as will be described below. The
thickness of the liquid crystal composition layers is set to be 5.5
.mu.m. Thus, the value for d.multidot..DELTA.n is 0.3916 .mu.m. An
optically anisotropic medium of an uniaxially stretched film made
from polyvinyl alcohol having a phase difference Rf of 0.11 .mu.m
is laminated over the liquid crystal cell so that the value for
(d.multidot..DELTA.n-Rf) is 0.2816 .mu.m within the preferable
range from 0.21 to 0.36 .mu.m for the brightness and the color
tone.
[0194] As a result, a bright display having a brightness exceeding
50% without coloring could be obtained.
[0195] Embodiment 31
[0196] The structure of the thirty-first embodiment is generally
the same as the fifteenth embodiment except as will be described
below.
[0197] In the thirty-first embodiment, .DELTA.n of the liquid
crystal composition layer is 0.072, and the gap is 7.0 .mu.m.
Therefore, d.multidot..DELTA.n is 0.504 .mu.m, .phi..sub.LC1 is
89.5 degrees, the orientation direction of the liquid crystal
molecules at the upper interface and the lower interface are set so
as to cross over perpendicularly to each other, and the angle,
.vertline..phi..sub.LC1-=.p- hi..sub.LC2.vertline., is 90 degrees.
The polarizing plates are arranged perpendicularly to each other
(.vertline..phi..sub.P2-.phi..sub.P1.vertli- ne.=90.degree.), and
the relationship with the orientation direction of the liquid
crystal molecules is selected so that .phi..sub.LC1=.phi..sub.- P1,
so thereby providing an optical rotatory mode. As a result, a
normally open type of liquid crystal display device is
obtained.
[0198] Measurement of the electro-optical characteristics in the
thirty-first embodiment revealed the result that the brightness
exceeded 50%, there was an extremely small difference in the
characteristics curve when the visual angle was changed laterally
and vertically, and scarcely changed display characteristics could
be obtained. The orientation of the liquid crystal was satisfactory
and no orientation failure domain was generated.
[0199] Embodiments 32 and 33
[0200] The structures of the thirty-second and thirty-third
embodiments are generally the same as the first embodiment except
as will be described below.
[0201] In these embodiment, the polarizing plates were so arranged
that the dark state was obtained when an electric field of low
level, not zero, was applied. The value of
.vertline..phi..sub.LC1-.phi..sub.P1.vert- line. was set at 5
degrees in the thirty-second embodiment, and 15 degrees in the
thirty-third embodiment, respectively, and the value of
.vertline..phi..sub.P2-.phi..sub.P1.vertline. was set at 90 degrees
for both thirty-second and thirty-third the embodiments.
[0202] A satisfactory display characteristic, for both brightness
and visual angle was obtained, as in the other embodiments. Also,
the liquid crystal orientation was satisfactory, and no orientation
failure domain was generated.
[0203] Embodiments 34 and 35
[0204] The structures of the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth
embodiments are generally the same as the twenty-first embodiment
except as will be described below.
[0205] In the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth embodiments, the
polarizing plates are arranged so that the dark state is obtained
when an electric field of low level, not zero, is applied. The
value .vertline..phi..sub.P1-.phi..sub.LC1.vertline. is set at 5
degrees in the thirty-fourth embodiment and 7 degrees in the
thirty-fifth embodiment, respectively, and the value of
.vertline..phi..sub.P2-.phi..sub.P1.vertli- ne. is set as 90
degrees for both embodiments. The thickness d of the liquid crystal
composition layer is 3 .mu.m. Therefore, d.multidot..DELTA.n is
0.275 .mu.m.
[0206] The results of measurement of the electro-optical
characteristics in these embodiments are shown in FIG. 13. For the
thirty-fourth embodiment, the voltage causing the dark state,
V.sub.OFF, may be 3.0 Volts and the voltage causing the maximum
brightness, V.sub.ON, was 9.2 Volts. Therefore, sufficiently high
contrast can be obtained if its operation is performed with the
voltage between V.sub.OFF and V.sub.ON. Similarly, for the
thirty-fifth embodiment, V.sub.OFF may be 5.0 Volts and V.sub.ON
may be 9.0 Volts. When it is operated with a voltage between
V.sub.OFF and V.sub.ON, suitable display characteristics for both
brightness and visual angle can be obtained, as in the other
embodiments. The liquid crystal orientation is satisfactory and no
orientation failure domain is generated.
[0207] Embodiment 36
[0208] The structure of the thirty-sixth embodiment is the same as
the thirty-fourth embodiment except as will be described below.
[0209] In the thirty-sixth embodiment, image signals are supplied
to the signal electrode and at the same time, an alternating
current at 3.0 V is applied to the common electrode. As a result,
there is a reduction of the voltage which is to be supplied to the
signal electrode (8.3 V.fwdarw.6.2 V). As its operation is
performed with the voltage between V.sub.OFF and V.sub.ON,
satisfactory display characteristics in both brightness and visual
angle can be obtained, as in the other embodiments. The liquid
crystal orientation is satisfactory and no orientation failure
domain is generated.
[0210] Embodiment 37
[0211] The structure of the thirty-seventh embodiment is the same
as the first embodiment except as will be described below.
[0212] In the thirty-seventh embodiment, the polarizing plates are
arranged so that the dark state is obtained when an electric field
of low level, not zero, is applied. The value of
.vertline..phi..sub.LC1-.phi..s- ub.P1.vertline. can be set at 45
degrees and the value of
.vertline..phi..sub.P2-.phi..sub.P1.vertline. can be set at 90
degrees. Therefore, a bright state is obtained by applying a low
voltage and dark state can be obtained by applying a high voltage.
The results of measurement of the voltage dependence of the
brightness in this present embodiment is shown with a solid line in
FIG. 14. Satisfactory display characteristics for both brightness
and visual angle are obtained, as in the other embodiments. The
contrast ratio is 35. The liquid crystal orientation is
satisfactory, and no orientation failure domain is generated.
[0213] Embodiment 38
[0214] With the structure of the thirty-seventh embodiment, a
birefringent medium (uniaxially stretched polyvinyl alcohol film)
is inserted between the two polarizing plates for compensating the
interface residual phase difference. The stretched direction of the
film .phi..sub.R is -45 degrees, and the stretched direction
crosses over perpendicularly to the transmission axis of the
polarized plate. The phase difference R.sub.f is 15 nm.
[0215] As shown by a dotted line in FIG. 14, the light leakage at
high voltage is suppressed more than in the thirty-seventh
embodiment, and the contrast ratio is improved to 150. In
accordance with the present invention, it is possible to
provide:
[0216] i) firstly, a thin film transistor type liquid crystal
display device, having a high contrast without using a transparent
electrode, which can be mass-produced with high yields at low cost
by using inexpensive manufacturing facilities;
[0217] ii) secondly, a thin film transistor type liquid crystal
display device having satisfactory visual angle characteristics
which can easily display multiple-tone images;
[0218] iii) thirdly, a thin film transistor type liquid crystal
display device having a large margin for the processes of the
liquid crystal orientation and materials, so that the device can
have a large aperture factor, improved light transmission, and
brighter images;
[0219] iv) fourthly, a thin film transistor type liquid crystal
display device having a large aperture factor, improved light
transmission, and brighter images by providing simple structures
for the thin film transistor structure.
[0220] These advantages may be achieved independently or in
combination depending on the structure of the device.
* * * * *