U.S. patent application number 11/066342 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-15 for liquid crystal display device.
Invention is credited to Mizunuma, Masaya, Nagano, Shingo.
Application Number | 20050200777 11/066342 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19080137 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050200777 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagano, Shingo ; et
al. |
September 15, 2005 |
Liquid crystal display device
Abstract
The object of the present invention is to prevent a light
leakage from a boundary portion between the areas where the voltage
to be applied to the liquid crystal varies, and reducing a light
leakage on a contact hole provided for electrically connecting the
first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode in the case
where the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies are composed of two-layered pixel electrodes,
namely, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. A
liquid crystal display device of the invention includes a plurality
of pixels provided on an insulating substrate, a scanning line
provided on the insulating substrate which scans the pixels, liquid
crystal which is interposed between the insulating substrate and a
counter substrate countered to the insulating substrate, and areas
where a voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies in one
pixel, and is characterized in that a light shielding film for
preventing a light leakage due to alignment disorder of the liquid
crystal is provided to a boundary portion of the areas where the
voltage to be applied to liquid crystal varies.
Inventors: |
Nagano, Shingo;
(Kikuchi-gun, JP) ; Mizunuma, Masaya;
(Kikuchi-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARE FRESSOLA VAN DER SLUYS &
ADOLPHSON, LLP
BRADFORD GREEN BUILDING 5
755 MAIN STREET, P O BOX 224
MONROE
CT
06468
US
|
Family ID: |
19080137 |
Appl. No.: |
11/066342 |
Filed: |
February 24, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11066342 |
Feb 24, 2005 |
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|
10225511 |
Aug 21, 2002 |
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6912034 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
349/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/136209 20130101;
G02F 1/134363 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
349/110 |
International
Class: |
G02F 001/1333 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 22, 2001 |
JP |
2001-251506 |
Claims
1. A liquid crystal display device comprising a plurality of pixels
provided on an insulating substrate, a scanning line provided on
the insulating substrate which scans the pixels, a liquid crystal
which is interposed between the insulating substrate and a counter
substrate countered to the insulating substrate, and display areas
within one pixel where an electric field applied to the liquid
crystal, and is characterized in that at least one light shielding
film or a plurality of light shielding films for preventing a light
leakage due to an alignment disorder of the liquid crystal is
provided to a boundary portion of the display areas where an
electric field applied to the liquid crystal varies, wherein the at
least one light shielding film or at least one of the plurality of
the light shielding films is formed integrally with a storage
capacitance line provided in parallel with the scanning line.
2. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein the pixels
are comprised of a first pixel electrode and a second pixel
electrode connected via an insulating film in the display areas
where the electric field to be applied to the liquid crystal varies
within one pixel, and the second pixel electrode is provided on a
layer above the insulating film provided on a layer above the first
pixel electrode, the second pixel electrode comprises an area where
the area is not overlapped on the first pixel electrode.
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, wherein a ratio of
the voltage to be applied to a liquid crystal between the first
pixel electrode and a counter electrode formed on a surface on the
counter substrate in contact with the liquid crystal to the
electric field applied to a liquid crystal between the second pixel
electrode and the counter electrode falls within a range of 0.5:1.0
to 0.9:1.0.
8. The liquid crystal display device of claim 3, wherein a ratio of
the electric field applied to the liquid crystal between the pixel
electrode where a part of the insulating film is removed and the
counter electrode formed on the surface on the counter substrate in
contact with the liquid crystal to the electric field applied to
the liquid crystal between the insulating film on the pixel
electrode and the counter electrode falls within a range of 0.5:1.0
to 0.9:1.0.
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. The liquid crystal display device of claim 1, further
comprising alignment films which are provided respectively on
surfaces of the insulating substrate and the counter substrate in a
contact with the liquid crystal and align the liquid crystal,
polarizers which are provided respectively on the surfaces of the
insulating substrate and the counter substrate opposite to the
surface in contact with the liquid crystal, and optical
compensating films which are provided respectively between the
polarizer and the insulating substrate, between the polarizer and
the counter substrate where an alignment state of a further liquid
crystal in the optical compensating films is stabilized.
13. The liquid crystal display device of claim 12, wherein a
product of a birefringence index .DELTA.n of the liquid crystal and
a thickness d of the liquid crystal satisfies relationship: 0.30
.mu.m.ltoreq. .DELTA.nd 0.50 .mu.m.
14. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal device where said
liquid crystal device comprising a plurality of pixels provided on
an insulating substrate, a scanning line provided on the insulating
substrate to scan the pixels, and liquid crystal which is
interposed between the insulating substrate and a counter substrate
countered to the insulating substrate, said method comprising the
steps of: forming display areas within one pixel where an electric
field applied to the liquid crystal varies; and forming at least
one light shielding film or a plurality of light shielding films
for preventing a light leakage due to alignment disorder of the
liquid crystal on a boundary portion of the display areas where the
electric field applied to the liquid crystal varies, wherein the at
least one light shielding film or at least one of the plurality of
the light shielding films is formed integrally with a storage
capacitance line provided in parallel with the scanning line.
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. The liquid crystal display device of claim 12, wherein the
liquid crystal is a discotic liquid crystal.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement of display
quality of a liquid crystal display device. The invention
particularly relates to prevention of a light leakage due to
alignment disorder of liquid crystal caused by widening of a
viewing angle.
[0002] As an operating mode of a liquid crystal display device, TN
(Twisted Nematic) type is widely applied. The TN type has merits of
easy gray scales display and a large aperture ratio, whereas has
problems that when the viewing angle is changed, a change of
transmittance is large and a viewing angle range is narrow. As one
of methods of solving the problem that the viewing angle range of
the TN type liquid crystal display device is narrow, a technique
providing areas where strength of an electric field applied to the
liquid crystal is different on a pixel is suggested. First, there
will be explained briefly below the conventional technique. FIG. 16
is a plane view showing one pixel on an insulating substrate
(hereinafter, referred to an array substrate) where a plurality of
pixels, TFT (Thin Film Transistor) and the like are formed in the
conventional liquid crystal display device. FIG. 17 is a sectional
view taken along line E-E in FIG. 16.
[0003] In FIGS. 16 and 17, 1 is a first pixel electrode, 2 is a
second pixel electrode, 3 is a gate line, 4 is a source line, 5 is
a source electrode, 6 is a drain electrode, 7 is a semiconductor
film, 9 is a storage capacitance line, 10 is a contact hole for
connecting the first pixel electrode and the second pixel
electrode, and 11 is a contact hole for connecting the second pixel
electrode and the drain electrode. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the
pixel electrode of the conventional liquid crystal display device
includes different two layers of the first pixel electrode 1 and
the second pixel electrode 2. The second pixel electrode 2 is
provided on a layer above an interlayer insulating film 15 provided
on a layer above the first pixel electrode 1. Further, the second
pixel electrode 2 is electrically connected with the drain
electrode 6 by the contact hole 11 and is electrically connected
with the first pixel electrode 1 by the contact hole 10. With such
a structure, even in the case where the same voltage is applied to
the first pixel electrode 1 and the second pixel electrode 2, areas
where a voltage (electric field) to be applied to liquid crystal is
different can be formed on one pixel. It becomes possible to widen
the viewing angle range by varying the voltage to be applied to
liquid crystal.
[0004] A conventional technique having different structure from the
above one is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No.
2809701. There will be explained below the conventional technique
in the publication with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19. In FIGS. 18
and 19, the same reference numerals are given to the components
which are the same as those in FIGS. 16 and 17, and a difference
therebetween will be explained. FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken
along line F-F in FIG. 18. In FIGS. 18 and 19, 12 is an insulating
substrate, 16 is a liquid crystal, 17 is a counter substrate, 18 is
a black matrix, 20 is a counter electrode, 21 is an alignment film
on an array substrate side, 22 is an alignment film on the counter
substrate side, 23 is a pixel electrode, 40 is an area which is not
covered with the insulating film, 41 is a gate electrode, 42 is a
thin film transistor, 43 is an insulating film, 44 is a low
resistance semiconductor film, and 45 is an insulating film. As
shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the insulating film 45 on the pixel
electrode 23 is removed in one pixel, and an area where the
insulating film is formed and an area where the insulating film is
not formed are provided on the pixel electrode. Thus, as is the
case with FIGS. 16 and 17, the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal can be varied in one pixel, and thus the viewing angle
range can be widened.
[0005] There will be briefly explained below a mechanism for
widening the viewing angle range. FIG. 20 shows a relationship
between the voltage (V) to be applied to a liquid crystal and
transmittance (T) in a normally white mode of the TN type liquid
crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 20, in general there is a
difference of approximately 1 to 2 V between a voltage at which
transmittance starts to change (threshold voltage Vth) and a
voltage at which a change of transmittance is almost finished
(saturation voltage Vsat). In the liquid crystal display device,
some voltage levels are provided between Vth and Vsat, thus gray
scales display is executed. However, as shown in FIG. 20, in the TN
type liquid crystal display device, in principle, when the viewing
angle is changed, a V-T characteristic (voltage to be applied to
the liquid crystal-transmittance characteristic) shifts and the
transmittance changes greatly. As a result, the viewing angle range
becomes narrow. However, when areas where the voltage to be applied
to the liquid crystal varies are provided in one pixel, when the
case having the first and second pixel electrodes in FIGS. 16 and
17 is exemplified, the V-T characteristics in the respective areas
become as shown in FIG. 21(a) on the first pixel electrode and as
shown in FIG. 21(b) on the second pixel electrode. An average of
one pixel becomes a total sum of FIGS. 21(a) and 21(b) as shown in
FIG. 21(c). For this reason, even if the viewing angle direction is
changed, as shown in FIG. 22 a change of the transmittance in the
case where the viewing angle is changed becomes small, and the
viewing angle range can be widened.
[0006] As mentioned above, the areas where the voltage to be
applied to the liquid crystal varies are provided in one pixel,
thus the viewing angle can be widened. However, in the
above-mentioned structure, since a voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal layer varies in a boundary portion between the areas
where voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies in one
pixel, when the case having the first and second pixel electrodes
in FIGS. 16 and 17 is exemplified, equipotential surfaces such as
Va, Vb and Vc shown in FIG. 23 are obtained in a vicinity of a
pixel electrode opening portion, and an electric field component in
a lateral direction is generated. In FIG. 23, the same reference
numerals are given to the same components as those in FIGS. 16
through 19. Due to the lateral electric field in the boundary
portion of the first and second pixel electrodes in FIG. 23, an
alignment disorder of liquid crystal molecules positioned on this
portion occurs. As a result, in the case, for example, where black
display is executed in the liquid crystal display device in the
normally white mode, a light leakage occurs on the boundary
portion, and even when a sufficient voltage for black display is
applied to the liquid crystal, the transmittance is not lowered
sufficiently, and there arises a problem that the contrast is
lowered.
[0007] In addition, in a structure which includes areas where the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies in one pixel due
to the two-layered pixel electrode composed of the first pixel
electrode 1 and the second pixel electrode 2, as for the contact
hole 10 for electrically connecting the first pixel electrode and
the second pixel electrode, its level difference (level difference
between the gate insulating film 14 and the interlayer insulating
film 15) is large. Therefore, a light leakage which is caused by
unsatisfactory alignment treatment due to rubbing occurs, and there
also arises the problem that the contrast is lowered.
[0008] The present invention is devised in consideration of the
above problem, in a structure which includes areas where voltage to
be applied to a liquid crystal varies in one pixel, and it is an
object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display
device which a viewing angle is widened and contrast is high and
fabricating method of the liquid crystal display device by
preventing a light leakage from a boundary portion between the
areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies,
and reducing a light leakage on a contact hole provided for
electrically connecting the first pixel electrode and the second
pixel electrode in the case where the areas where the voltage to be
applied to the liquid crystal varies are composed of two-layered
pixel electrodes, namely, a first pixel electrode and a second
pixel electrode.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A first liquid crystal display device of the present
invention includes a plurality of pixels provided on an insulating
substrate, a scanning line provided on the insulating substrate
which scans the pixels, liquid crystal which is interposed between
the insulating substrate and a counter substrate countered to the
insulating substrate, and areas where a voltage to be applied to
the liquid crystal varies in one pixel, and is characterized in
that a light shielding film for preventing a light leakage due to
alignment disorder of the liquid crystal is provided to a boundary
portion of the areas where the voltage to be applied to liquid
crystal varies.
[0010] A second liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the pixels are composed of a
first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode connected via an
insulating film in the areas where the voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal varies in one pixel, and the second pixel electrode
is provided on a layer above the insulating film provided on a
layer above the first pixel electrode as well as includes an area
where it is not overlapped on the first pixel electrode in the
first liquid crystal display device.
[0011] A third liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the areas where the voltage to
be applied to the liquid crystal varies in one pixel are formed
that an insulating film is formed on pixel electrodes composing the
pixels and a part of the insulating film on the pixel electrodes is
removed in the first liquid crystal display device.
[0012] A fourth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the light shielding film is
formed by a conductive film on the same layer as the scanning line
in the first, second or third liquid crystal display device.
[0013] A fifth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the light shielding film is
formed integrally with a storage capacitance line provided in
parallel with the scanning line in the first, second or third
liquid crystal display device.
[0014] A sixth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the light shielding film is
formed in a position where a light leakage due to alignment
disorder of the liquid crystal due to the alignment treatment is
prevented in one of the first through fifth liquid crystal display
device.
[0015] A seventh liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that a ratio of the voltage to be
applied to a liquid crystal between the first pixel electrode and a
counter electrode formed on a surface on the counter substrate in
contact with the liquid crystal to the voltage to be applied to a
liquid crystal between the second pixel electrode and the counter
electrode falls within the range of 0.5:1.0 to 0.9:1.0 in the
second liquid crystal display device.
[0016] An eighth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that a ratio of the voltage to be
applied to the liquid crystal between the pixel electrode where a
part of the insulating film is removed and the counter electrode
formed on the surface on the counter substrate in contact with the
liquid crystal to the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
between the insulating film on the pixel electrode and the counter
electrode falls within the range of 0.5:1.0 to 0.9:1.0 in the third
liquid crystal display device.
[0017] A ninth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the first pixel electrode is
connected with the second pixel electrode by forming a contact hole
on the insulating film, and the light shielding film for preventing
the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal is provided to the
contact hole in the second or seventh liquid crystal display
device.
[0018] A tenth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the light shielding film for
preventing the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal on the
contact hole is formed by a black matrix on the counter substrate
in the ninth liquid crystal display device.
[0019] An eleventh liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that the light shielding film for
preventing the alignment disorder of the liquid crystal on the
contact hole is formed by an opaque film on the insulating
substrate in the ninth liquid crystal display device.
[0020] A twelfth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized by further including alignment films
which are provided respectively on surfaces of the insulating
substrate and the counter substrate in contact with the liquid
crystal and aligns the liquid crystal, polarizers which are
provided respectively on surfaces of the insulating substrate and
the counter substrate opposite to the surface in contact with the
liquid crystal, and optical compensating films which are provided
respectively between the polarizers and the insulating substrates,
between the polarizers and the counter substrate where an alignment
state of discotic liquid crystal is stabilized in one of the first
through eleventh liquid crystal display device.
[0021] A thirteenth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is characterized in that a product of a birefringence
index .DELTA.n of the liquid crystal and a thickness d of the
liquid crystal layer satisfies the relationship: 0.30
.mu.m.ltoreq..DELTA.nd.ltoreq.0.50 .mu.m in the twelfth liquid
crystal display device.
[0022] A first liquid crystal display device manufacturing method
of the present invention is directed to method for manufacturing a
liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels provided
on an insulating substrate, a scanning line provided on the
insulating substrate to scan the pixels, and liquid crystal which
is interposed between the insulating substrate and a counter
substrate countered to the insulating substrate, the method
including steps of forming areas where a voltage to be applied to
the liquid crystal varies on one pixel, and forming a light
shielding film for preventing a light leakage due to alignment
disorder of the liquid crystal on a boundary portion of the areas
where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies.
[0023] A second liquid crystal display device manufacturing method
of the present invention included the step of forming the areas
where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies on one
pixel includes the steps of forming a first pixel electrode,
forming an insulating film on a layer above the first pixel
electrode, forming a contact hole on the insulating film, and
forming a second pixel electrode which has an area where it is not
overlapped on the first pixel electrode on a layer above the
insulating film and is connected with the first pixel electrode via
the contact hole in the first liquid crystal display device
manufacturing method.
[0024] A third liquid crystal display device manufacturing method
of the present invention is characterized in that the step of
forming the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies on one pixel includes the steps of forming a pixel
electrode, forming an insulating film on a layer above the pixel
electrode, and removing a part of the insulating film from the
pixel electrode in the first liquid crystal display device
manufacturing method.
[0025] A fourth liquid crystal display device manufacturing method
of the present invention is characterized by further including the
step of forming a light shielding film for preventing alignment
disorder of the liquid crystal on the contact hole in the second
liquid crystal display device manufacturing method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a plane view showing one pixel of a liquid crystal
display device according to a first embodiment of the present
invention,
[0027] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of an array
substrate side in FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment of the
present invention,
[0028] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of the
liquid crystal display device in FIG. 1 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention,
[0029] FIG. 4 is a plane view showing one pixel of the liquid
crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the
present invention,
[0030] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of the array
substrate side in FIG. 4 according to the second embodiment of the
present invention,
[0031] FIG. 6 is a plane view showing one pixel of the liquid
crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the
present invention,
[0032] FIG. 7 is a plane view showing one pixel of the liquid
crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention,
[0033] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of the array
substrate side in FIG. 7 according to the fourth embodiment of the
present invention,
[0034] FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of the liquid crystal display
device according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention,
[0035] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a relationship between a
retardation and a measuring angle of an optical compensating film
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
[0036] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing refractive indexes in a radial
direction and a thicknesswise direction of discotic liquid crystal
molecules according to the fifth embodiment of the present
invention,
[0037] FIG. 12(a) is a structural diagram of the optical
compensating film according to the fifth embodiment of the present
invention; and FIG. 12(b) is a diagram showing refractive indexes
of inplane and normal direction of the optical compensating film
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
[0038] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an angle dependence of a
relative transmittance of the liquid crystal display device
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention,
[0039] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an angle dependence of the
relative transmittance in the liquid crystal display device having
a structure that the optical compensating film is not provided and
the voltage to be applied to the voltage to be applied to a liquid
crystal varies in one pixel,
[0040] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an angle dependence of the
relative transmittance in the liquid crystal display device where
the optical compensating film is not provided and which does not
have the structure that the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies in one pixel,
[0041] FIG. 16 is a plane view showing one pixel in a conventional
liquid crystal display device,
[0042] FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 16
in the conventional liquid crystal display device,
[0043] FIG. 18 is a plane view showing one pixel of a conventional
liquid crystal display device,
[0044] FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 18
in the conventional liquid crystal display device,
[0045] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a relationship between a
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal and a transmittance in
a TN type liquid crystal display device,
[0046] FIG. 21(a) is a diagram showing a relationship between the
voltage to be applied the liquid crystal and the transmittance on a
second pixel electrode in the TN type liquid crystal display
device; FIG. 21(b) is a diagram showing a relationship between the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal voltage and the
transmittance on a first pixel electrode; and FIG. 21(c) is a
diagram showing a characteristic in the case where FIGS. 21(a) and
21(b) are integrated,
[0047] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing a relationship between the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal and the transmittance
in the conventional liquid crystal display device, and
[0048] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an equipotential surface in the
vicinity of a pixel electrode opening portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiment 1
[0049] FIGS. 1 through 3 are diagrams showing a liquid crystal
display device according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 1 is a plane view showing one pixel, FIG. 2 is a
sectional view taken along line A-A of an array substrate side in
FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of the
liquid crystal display device in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, 1 is a first
pixel electrode, 2 is a second pixel electrode, 3 is a scanning
line for scanning a pixel (hereinafter, referred to a gate line), 4
is a source line, 5 is a source electrode, 6 is a drain electrode,
7 is a semiconductor film, 8 is a light shielding film, 9 is a
storage capacitance line, 10 is a contact hole for connecting the
first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, 11 is a
contact hole for connecting the second pixel electrode and the
drain electrode, 12 is an insulating substrate, 13 is an interlayer
insulating film, 14 is a gate insulating film, 15 is an interlayer
insulating film, 16 is liquid crystal, 17 is a counter substrate,
18 is a black matrix, 19 is a color filter material, 20 is a
counter electrode, 21 is an alignment film on the array substrate
side, 22 is an alignment film on the counter substrate side, 34 is
a rubbing direction of the alignment film 21 on the array substrate
side.
[0051] FIG. 1 is the plane view showing one pixel, and there will
be explained below pixel manufacturing steps with reference to FIG.
2. First, a transparent conductive film made of ITO (Indium Tin
Oxide), for example, is deposited on the insulating substrate 1 by
sputtering and is patterned so that the first pixel electrode 1 is
formed. Next, the interlayer insulating film 13 is deposited by CVD
(Chemical Vapor Deposition) method or the like. Thereafter, the
gate line 3 including the gate electrode composed of, for example,
Al, Cr, Cu, Ta or Mo, metal alloy obtained by adding another
substance to them or a laminated film made of them, and a
conductive film to be the storage capacitance line 9 are patterned
to be formed by photolithography and etching. At this time, in the
present embodiment, also the light shielding film 8, which is
formed on a boundary portion between areas where a voltage to be
applied to the liquid crystal varies and which are composed of the
first conductive film and a second conductive film, mentioned
later, is formed by the conductive film on the same layer as the
gate line. Here, the light shielding film 8 is electrically in a
floating state.
[0052] Next, the gate insulating film 14 is formed by the CVD
method or the like and further the semiconductor film 7 is
deposited and patterned so that the semiconductor film 7 which is
composed of, for example, an i-type semiconductor film and an
n-type semiconductor film is formed. Thereafter, a conductive film
made of Al, Cr, Cu, Ta or Mo, or metal alloy obtained by adding
another substance to them, or a laminated film composed of
different types of conductive films or a film where composition
varies in a thicknesswise direction is deposited by sputtering and
patterned so that the source line 4, the source electrode 5 and the
drain electrode 6 are formed. After the source electrode and the
drain electrode are patterned, for example etching is performed by
using the source electrode and the drain electrode as masks, and a
part of the semiconductor film on a channel portion of TFT (for
example, a part of the n-type semiconductor film and the i-type
semiconductor film) is removed so that TFT is formed. After the
interlayer insulating film 15 is deposited by the CVD method or the
like, the contact hole 11 for connecting the second pixel electrode
2, mentioned later, and the drain electrode 6, and the contact hole
10 for connecting the first pixel electrode 1 and the second pixel
electrode 2 are formed. Finally the second pixel electrode as a
transparent conductive film such as ITO is deposited by sputtering
and patterned so that the second pixel electrode 2 is formed, and
the array substrate is formed.
[0053] With the above structure, the liquid crystal display device,
in which a light leakage due to lateral electric field in the
boundary portion of the areas where a voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal varies in one pixel is prevented and the contrast is
high, can be obtained. Moreover, since an area where the light
leakage occurs is occasionally specified depending on a direction
of alignment treatment such as rubbing, the light shielding film
may be provided only to the area where the light leakage is
remarkable. In the present embodiment, a preferred viewing
direction of the liquid crystal display device is in a direction of
six o'clock (lower endways direction on the sheet), the rubbing
direction directs from the upper left side to the lower right side
with respect to the pixel as shown in FIG. 1. For this reason, in
the case of this rubbing direction, the light shielding film 8 is
formed only on the boundary portion of the areas where the voltage
to be applied to the liquid crystal varies on an upper stream side
of the rubbing direction where reverse tilt occurs and the light
leakage easily occurs. However, needless to say, the light
shielding film may be provided not only to the boundary portion of
the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
varies and the light leakage due to the alignment treatment such as
rubbing is prevent but also to a boundary area where the light
leakage due to another factors is prevented.
[0054] In addition, in the present embodiment, the light shielding
film 8 is formed on the same layer as the gate line 3 and the
storage capacitance line 9, but may be formed on the same layer as
the source line 4. In the case where the light shielding film 8 is
formed on the same layer as the gate line 3 or the source line 4,
the manufacturing steps are simplified, but also in the case where
the light shielding film 8 is formed by a conductive film on a
different layer from the gate line or the source line, the same
effect is produced as long as it is an opaque film which can shield
a light.
[0055] Further, the present embodiment shows an example that the
light shielding film 8 is divided into two areas to be formed as
shown in FIG. 1, but it may be formed into substantially L shape
integrally with an area where the light leakage occurs depending on
a direction of the alignment treatment such as rubbing.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in a state
that the array substrate and the counter substrate are laminated.
As shown in FIG. 3, after the second pixel electrode 2 is formed,
the alignment film 21 of the array substrate side is applied onto
the second pixel electrode 2. Similarly after the black matrix 18,
the color filter material 19 and the counter electrode 20 are
formed on a side of the counter substrate 17 which comes in contact
with liquid crystal, the alignment film 22 of the counter substrate
is applied onto the counter electrode 20, and the alignment films
21 and 22 are subject to the alignment treatment by the rubbing
method, for example, such that the liquid crystal is twisted
through 90.degree.. The liquid crystal 16 is interposed, and at
least one polarizer (not shown) is stuck to surfaces of the array
substrate and the counter substrate opposite to the surfaces in
contact with the liquid crystal such that their transmittance axes
form approximately 90.degree., and the liquid crystal display
device of normally white mode is finished.
[0057] Here, since a level difference of the contact hole 10 for
connecting the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode
(a level difference between the interlayer insulating films 13, 15
and the gate insulating film 14) is large, in order to shield a
light leakage due to unsatisfactory alignment treatment by means of
rubbing or the like, the contact hole 10 is provided in a position
where the black matrix 18 and its light shielding area 18a on the
counter substrate 17 are overlapped. The light shielding film which
shields the light leakage due to the unsatisfactory alignment
treatment is formed with the black matrix on the counter substrate
17 so that the manufacturing steps can be simplified without adding
the manufacturing steps. At this time, from the viewpoint of an
aperture ratio, it is preferable that the contact hole 10 is
provided in one of vicinities of four corners of one pixel or at
least the vicinities of the four sides of one pixel as shown in
FIG. 1. With such a structure, also the light leakage on the
contact hole 10 for connecting the first pixel electrode and the
second pixel electrode due to the unsatisfactory alignment
treatment by means of rubbing or the like can be prevented, and the
liquid crystal display device with high contrast can be
obtained.
[0058] In addition, the present embodiment shows both the shielding
of the light leakage from the boundary portion of the areas where
the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies due to the
first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode by means of
the light shielding film 8 and the shielding of the light leakage
from the contact hole 10 by means of the black matrix 18. However,
it is not always necessary to combine and use these techniques, and
they may be used independently.
Embodiment 2
[0059] There will be explained below the embodiment 2 of the
present invention with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a
plane view showing one pixel of the liquid crystal display device
according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of the array
substrate side in FIG. 4. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the same reference
numerals are given to the same components as in FIGS. 1 through 3,
and differences will be explained. In FIGS. 4 and 5, unlike the
embodiment 1, a plurality of the pixel electrodes are not provided,
and the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
voltage varies are formed on one pixel by utilizing a level
difference due to existence/non-existence of an insulating film on
the pixel electrode.
[0060] The manufacturing steps in the present embodiment will be
explained. First, the conductive film to be the gate line 3, the
storage capacitance line 9 and the light shielding film 8, which is
composed of, for example, Al, Cr, Cu, Ta or Mo, metal alloy
obtained by adding another substance to them or a laminated film of
them, is formed on the insulating substrate 12. Here, the light
shielding film 8 is electrically in the floating state. The gate
insulating film 14, and the semiconductor film 7 which is composed
of, for example, the i-type semiconductor film and the n-type
semiconductor film are formed and patterned. Thereafter, the pixel
electrode 23 which is composed of a transparent conductive film
such as ITO is formed. The conductive film which is composed of,
for example, Al, Cr, Cu, Ta or Mo, or metal alloy obtained by
adding another substance to them, or a laminated layer obtained by
laminating different kinds of conductive films, or a film where
composition differs in the thicknesswise direction is deposited by
sputtering and patterned so that the source line 4, the source
electrode 5 and the drain electrode 6 are formed. After the source
electrode and the drain electrode are patterned, TFT is formed by
removing a part of the semiconductor film on the channel portion of
TFT (for example, a part of the n-type semiconductor film and the
i-type semiconductor film) while using the source electrode and the
drain electrode as masks. Thereafter, the insulating film 24 is
deposited and patterned. At this time, a part of the insulating
film on the pixel electrode 23 is removed.
[0061] With the above-mentioned structure, even in the structure
that the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies in one pixel are provided by the level difference
due to existence/non-existence of the insulating film on the one
layered pixel electrode, the light leakage due to the alignment
treatment such as rubbing can be prevented as is the case with the
embodiment 1. However, needless to say, the light shielding film
may be provided not only to the boundary portion of the areas where
the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies which
prevents the light leakage due to the alignment treatment such as
rubbing but to the area which prevents the light leakage due to
another factors.
[0062] In addition, in the present embodiment, the light shielding
film 8 is formed on the same layer as the gate line 0.3 and the
storage capacitance line 9, but it may be formed on the same layer
as the source line 4. In the case where the light shielding film 8
is formed on the same layer as the gate line 3 or the source line
4, the manufacturing steps are simplified, but also in the case
where the light shielding film 8 is formed with the conductive film
on the different layer from the gate line or the source line, the
same effect is produced as long as the film is an opaque film which
can shield a light.
Embodiment 3
[0063] There will be explained below the third embodiment of the
present invention with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a plane view
showing one pixel of the liquid crystal display device according to
the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same
reference numerals are given to the same components as in FIGS. 1
through 5, and differences will be explained. In FIG. 6, 25 is a
light shielding film which is connected with the storage
capacitance line 9. In the present embodiment, the storage
capacitance line 9 and the light shielding film 8 of the first
embodiment are formed integrally so that the light shielding film
25 for preventing light leakage is formed. Since the manufacturing
steps in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first
embodiment, the description thereof is omitted, and since the
sectional view taken along line C-C in FIG. 6 is the same as FIGS.
2 and 3, the description thereof is omitted.
[0064] With the above structure, the same effect as that in the
first embodiment is produced, and the manufacturing steps are
simplified and storage capacitance formed between the storage
capacitance line and the pixel electrodes can be secured
sufficiently. Furthermore, a decrease in an area of the light
transmitting portion in one pixel is suppressed, and the viewing
angle can be improved without decreasing the aperture ratio.
Embodiment 4
[0065] There will be explained below the fourth embodiment of the
present invention with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a
plane view showing one pixel of the liquid crystal display device
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of the array
substrate side in FIG. 7. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the same reference
numerals are given to the same components as in FIGS. 1 through 6,
and differences will be explained. In FIGS. 7 and 8, 26 is a light
shielding film of the contact hole. In the present embodiment,
unlike the first embodiment, the light shielding film on the
contact hole is formed by an opaque film of the array substrate
side.
[0066] FIG. 7 is a plane view showing one pixel, and firstly the
manufacturing steps thereof will be explained with reference to
FIG. 8. The gate line 3, the storage capacitance line 9, the light
shielding film 8 and the light shielding film 26 on the contact
hole which are composed of Al, Cr, Cu, Ta or Mo, or metal alloy
obtained by adding another substance to them or a laminated film of
them are patterned to be formed on the insulating substrate 1 by
photolithography and etching. At this time, the light shielding
film 8 is formed on the boundary portion of the areas where the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies by means of the
first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, mentioned
later, and the light shielding film 26 is formed on the contact
hole for connecting the first pixel electrode and the second pixel
electrode. Next, a transparent conductive film made of, for
example, ITO is deposited by sputtering and patterned so that the
first pixel electrode 1 is formed. The gate insulating film 14 is
deposited by the CVD method or the like, and the semiconductor film
7 is deposited and patterned so that the semiconductor film 7
composed of, for example, the i-type semiconductor film and the
n-type semiconductor film is formed.
[0067] Thereafter, the conductive film made of, for example, Al,
Cr, Cu, Ta or Mo, or the metal alloy obtained by adding another
substance to them, a laminate film obtained by laminating different
types of conductive films, or a film where composition varies in
the thicknesswise direction is deposited by sputtering and
patterned so that the source line 4, the source electrode 5 and the
drain electrode 6 are formed. After the patterns of the source
electrode and the drain electrode are formed, TFT is formed by
removing a part of the semiconductor film on the channel portion of
TFT (for example, a part of the n-type semiconductor film and the
i-type semiconductor film) while using the source electrode, the
drain electrode are etched as masks. After the interlayer
insulating film 15 is deposited, the contact hole 11 for connecting
the pixel electrode 2 and the drain electrode 6, and the contact
hole 10 for connecting the first pixel electrode 1 and the second
pixel electrode 2 are formed. Finally, the second pixel electrode
as the transparent conductive film such as ITO is deposited by
sputtering so as to be patterned. As a result, the second pixel
electrode 2 is formed so that the array substrate is formed.
[0068] Here, unlike the first and second embodiments, the light
shielding film 8 is electrically connected with the first pixel
electrode 1, and the providing position of the light shielding film
8 is the same as the embodiment 1. With the above structure, the
same effect as the embodiment 1 can be produced.
[0069] In addition, the present embodiment shows the example that
the light shielding film 26 of the contact hole is formed on the
same conductive film as the gate line 3, but it may be formed on
the same layer as the source line 4. In the case where the light
shielding film 26 is formed on the same layer as the gate line 3 or
the source line 4, the manufacturing steps are simplified. However,
also in the case where the light shielding film 26 of the contact
hole is formed on a conductive film different from the gate line or
the source line such as a layer above the second pixel electrode 2,
the same effect is produced as long as it is an opaque film which
can shield a light.
[0070] Further, the present embodiment shows both the shielding of
the light leakage from the boundary portion of the areas where the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies due to the first
pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode by means of the
light shielding film 8 and the shielding of the light leakage from
the contact hole 10 by means of the light shielding film 26. It is
not always necessary to combine and use these techniques, and they
may be used independently.
[0071] The present invention was explained based on the first
through fourth embodiments. A thickness of the insulating film
formed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel
electrode changes normally due to dielectric constant anisotropy of
liquid crystal to be used for the TN mode and dielectric constant
of the insulating film material, a thickness of the insulating film
formed on the second pixel electrode and a relationship of the
dielectric constants, but it can be represented by a voltage
(electric field) ratio of a first voltage to be applied to liquid
crystal between the first pixel electrode and the counter electrode
opposing via the liquid crystal to a second voltage to be applied
to the liquid crystal between the second pixel electrode and the
counter electrode. When ratio of the voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal between the first pixel electrode and the counter
electrode to the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
between the second pixel electrode and the counter electrode is
smaller than 0.5:1.0, the contrast is lowered, while the viewing
angle cannot be improved sufficiently, if the ratio is larger than
0.9:1.0. For that reason, it is preferable that the ratio falls
within the rage of 0.5:1.0 to 0.9:1.0. Like the case of FIG. 4 of
the second embodiment, in the case where a part of the insulating
film is removed from the pixel electrode and the areas where the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies are provided to
one pixel, it is preferable that the ratio of the voltage to be
applied to the liquid crystal of the voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal between the pixel electrode where a part of the
insulating film is removed and the counter electrode to the voltage
to be applied to the liquid crystal between the insulating film on
the pixel electrode and the counter electrode falls within the
range of 0.5:1.0 to 0.9:1.0.
[0072] In addition, the present invention is not limited to the
layer structure and the material structure in the first through
fourth embodiments, and various modifications are possible within
the rage that the present invention does not deviate from the
gist.
[0073] In addition, the first through fourth embodiments show the
case where two areas where the voltage to be applied to liquid
crystal varies are formed as an example, but three or more areas
may be formed, and also in this case, the light shielding film is
formed in the position where the light leakage due to the alignment
treatment such as rubbing is prevented so that the same effect can
be produced.
[0074] Further, the first through fourth embodiments explain the
display device using the TN type liquid crystal, but the present
invention is not limited to this and can be applied to display
devices using various liquid crystals such as field sequential
type.
Embodiment 5
[0075] There will be explained below the fifth embodiment of the
present invention with reference to FIGS. 9 through 15. FIG. 9 is a
structural diagram of the liquid crystal display device according
to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a
diagram showing a relationship between retardation and measuring
angle (viewing angle) of an optical compensating film. FIG. 11 is a
diagram showing refractive indexes of discotic liquid crystal
molecules in a radial direction and a thicknesswise direction. FIG.
12(a) is a diagram showing a relationship between a base material
composing the optical compensating film and the discotic liquid
crystal molecules, and FIG. 12(b) is a diagram showing refractive
indexes of the optical compensating film inplane and in a normal
direction. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a relationship between
relative transmittance on a display front surface and the viewing
angle in an up-and-down direction in the liquid crystal display
device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
14 is a diagram showing a relationship between the relative
transmittance on the display front surface and the viewing angle in
the up-and-down direction in the liquid crystal display device,
which has the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal voltage varies in one pixel and is provided with no optical
compensating film. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship
between the relative transmittance on the display front surface and
the viewing angle in the up-and-down direction in the liquid
crystal display device, which is provided with the optical
compensating film and does not have the areas where the voltage to
be applied to liquid crystal varies in one pixel.
[0076] In FIG. 9, numeral 27 is a polarizer on the array substrate
side, numeral 28 is a polarizer on the counter substrate side,
numeral 29 is an optical compensating film on the array substrate
side, numeral 30 is an optical compensating film on the counter
substrate side, numeral 31 is an array substrate, numeral 32 is a
counter substrate, numeral 33 is a liquid crystal, numeral 34 is a
rubbing direction of the array substrate 31, numeral 35 is a
rubbing direction of the counter substrate 32, and numeral 36 is a
back light. Numerals 27a and 28a show transmittance axial
directions of the polarizers 27 and 28, and numerals 29a and 30a
show tilt directions of the discotic liquid crystal. A driving
circuit for driving pixels on the array substrate 31 is not
shown.
[0077] The optical compensating films 29 and 30 are optical
compensating films where an alignment state of the discotic liquid
crystal is stabilized. The concrete structure of the optical
compensating films is disclosed in, for example, Japanese
Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 50204/1996, 50270/1996,
95030/1996, 95034/1996 and 5524/1996. As for the optical
compensating films 29 and 30, it is considered that the discotic
liquid crystal is hybrid-aligned in such a manner that an angle of
director (tilt angle of liquid crystal molecules) continuously
changes in the thicknesswise direction.
[0078] For this reason, as shown in the diagram of FIG. 10 showing
the relationship between retardation Re and measuring angle
(viewing angle) of the optical compensating film, this relationship
has the minimal value (about a several nm) such that the absolute
value of the retardation is not zero in all directions, and the
minimal value is measured in the range of 5 to 50.degree. from the
normal direction of the optical compensating film. Here, the
measuring angle shows an angle in an arbitrary direction from the
normal direction with respect to a plane of the optical
compensating film. The measuring angle range of 5 to 50.degree. is
a expected range of continuously changed tilt direction of discotic
liquid crystal (molecules) which is comprised the optical
compensating film. When the measuring angle is out of this range,
sufficient optical compensation is not made at the time of black
display, and thus the viewing angle improving effect is
lowered.
[0079] Refractive index anisotropy of the discotic liquid crystal
is negative, namely, as schematically shown in FIG. 11, a
refractive index nr of the discotic liquid crystal molecules 37 in
the radial direction r and a refractive index nd in the
thicknesswise direction d satisfy the relationship: nr>nd. For
this reason, as for the whole optical compensating film, as shown
in FIG. 12(a), when the tilt direction of the discotic liquid
crystal molecules 37 with respect to the base material 38 is x,
refractive indexes in directions x, y and z shown in FIG. 12(b) is
nx, ny and nz, respectively. At this time, the refractive indexes
nx and ny in the plane of the optical compensating film 39 and the
refractive index nz in the thicknesswise direction satisfy the
relationship: nx>ny>nz in order to fulfill the function of
the optical compensating film. Directions that the tilt direction
of the director is projected onto a film surface are represented by
arrows on the optical compensating films 29 and 30 in FIG. 9.
[0080] In addition, it is desirable that a product .DELTA.nd
(retardation) of birefringence index .DELTA.n of the liquid crystal
33 and a thickness d of the liquid crystal layer satisfies the
relationship: 0.30 .mu.m.ltoreq..DELTA.nd.ltoreq.0.50 .mu.m because
when And is small, the contrast is lowered due to lowering of
luminance at the time of white display, and when And is large, the
contrast is improved but a response speed is slow and the viewing
angle becomes narrow. It is more preferable that And satisfies the
relationship: 0.34 .mu.m.ltoreq..DELTA.nd.ltoreq.0- .42 .mu.m.
[0081] Next, there will be explained below the liquid crystal
display device manufacturing method according to the present
embodiment with reference to FIG. 9. First, an alignment film is
applied to surfaces of the array substrate 31 on which a plurality
of pixels are arranged and of the counter substrate 32 where the
counter electrode (not shown) is formed in contact with the liquid
crystal 33, and the films are subjected to a heat treatment at
200.degree. C. for 30 minutes. The alignment films are subjected to
a rubbing treatment such that the alignment directions of the
liquid crystal form approximately 90.degree. (a rubbing direction
34 of the array substrate and a rubbing direction 35 of the counter
substrate form approximately 90.degree.). Here, that the alignment
directions of the liquid crystal form approximately 90.degree. (a
twist angle of the liquid crystal becomes approximately 90.degree.)
means that a twist angle of the liquid crystal interposed by the
upper and lower substrate falls within the range of 70 to
100.degree.. When the twist angle of the liquid crystal is out of
the range of 70 to 100.degree., satisfactory white display in the
normally white mode cannot be obtained, and when the angle falls
within the above range, satisfactory voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal-transmittance characteristic can be obtained as the
liquid crystal display device in the normally white mode.
[0082] In addition, it is preferable that a pretilt angle of the
liquid crystal is 3 to 9.degree.. When the pretilt angle is smaller
than 3.degree., an alignment disorder area is easily generated on a
pixel effective display portion, and the display quality is
deteriorated. Meanwhile, when the pretilt angle is larger than
9.degree., the transmittance in the white display is lowered so
that display luminance is lowered and contrast is lowered.
[0083] Thereafter, a spacer composed of plastic beads or the like
is dispersed onto one of the substrates such that the thickness of
the liquid crystal becomes, for example, 4.3 .mu.m, and the array
substrate 31 and the counter substrate 32 are overlapped. At this
time, the substrates are surrounded by a seal material except for a
part of their periphery, and after the liquid crystal 33 is
injected into the substrates by a vacuum injecting method, the
substrates are sealed. The injected liquid crystal 33 having
birefringence index .DELTA.n=0.089 is used. Next, the polarizer 27
on the array substrate side and the polarizer 28 on the counter
substrate side, to which the optical compensating film 29 on the
array substrate side and the optical compensating film 30 on the
counter substrate side are provided, are stuck to the surfaces of
the array substrate 31 and the counter substrate 32 which are
opposite to the surfaces in contact with the liquid crystal 33 so
that the rubbing directions 34 and 35 match with the tilt
directions of the discotic liquid crystal respectively. Here, the
transmission axes of the polarizer 27 on the array substrate side
and the polarizer 28 on the counter substrate side form
approximately 90.degree.. When the angle formed by the transmission
axes of the polarizer 27 on the array substrate side and the
polarizer 28 on the counter substrate side greatly deviates from
90.degree., a transmitted light amount at the time of black display
increases, and thus there arises problems that display becomes
whitish and the contrast is lowered. For this reason, the
transmission axes are set to form approximately 90.degree.
(orthogonal) so that a transmitted light amount at the time of
black display is reduced and the contrast can be improved.
Thereafter, the driving circuit, not shown, is mounted to be
combined with the backlight so that the liquid crystal display
device of normally white mode is finished.
[0084] With the above structure, as shown in FIG. 13 (respective
curved lines a, b, c, d and e in the drawing show relationships
when voltages are applied so that the relative transmittance
becomes 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% (black display) from the top at
the angle of 0), the relative transmittance of half tone in a
downward direction does not cross until about -50.degree., and as a
result it is found that inversion does not occur until around this
angle.
[0085] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a relationship between the
relative transmittance on the display front surface and the viewing
angle in the up-and-down direction in the liquid crystal display
device which has the areas where the voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal varies in one pixel and optical compensating film is
not provided. Respective curved lines in the drawing a, b, c, d and
e show relationships when voltages are applied so that the relative
transmittance becomes 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0% (black display)
from the top at the angle of 0. As apparent from FIG. 14, in the
case where the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies are provided in one pixel and the optical
compensating film is not provided, relative luminance curved lines
do not cross until around the angle of -25.degree., and inversion
does not occur until this angle. As a result, it is confirmed that
an angle at which gray scale inversion occurs is clearly wider
downwards by adding the optical compensating film.
[0086] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a relationship between the
relative transmittance on the display front surface and the viewing
angle in the up-and-down direction in the liquid crystal display
device which is provided with the optical compensating film and
does not have the areas where the voltage to be applied to liquid
crystal varies in one pixel. Respective curved lines in the drawing
a, b, c, d and e show relationships when voltages are applied so
that the relative transmittance becomes 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% and 0%
(black display) from the top at the angle of 0.degree.. As apparent
from FIG. 15, in the case where the optical compensating film is
provided and the areas where the voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal varies is not provided to one pixel, respective
relative luminance curved lines do not cross until around angle of
-45.degree., namely, inversion does not occur until this angle. As
a result, when the voltage to be applied to the areas where the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies is provided to
one pixel, it is confirmed that the angle at which gray scale
inversion occurs becomes wider downwards.
[0087] The reason that such a result is obtained is as follows. The
liquid crystal is combined with the optical compensating film so
that optical compensation is carried out, but in the case where the
liquid crystal display device in a state of black or half tone
display is viewed aslant, there exists retardation which cannot be
optically compensated depending on the combinations. However, when
the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
varies are provided to one pixel, the effect which modifies the
slant of the gray scale luminance characteristic (relative
transmittance characteristic) is added so that the angle at which
the gray scale inversion occurs can be widened downward.
[0088] In the liquid crystal display device of the present
embodiment, the structures in the first through fourth embodiments
are combined variously to be applied so that the viewing angle can
be widened downward, and the light leakage from the boundary
portion of the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies in one pixel and also the light leakage on the
contact hole for connecting the first pixel electrode and the
second pixel electrode are prevented. As a result, the contrast can
be improved.
[0089] As mentioned above, the present embodiment explained the
improvement of the viewing angle using the optical compensating
film, but the present invention is not limited to the film
structure and the material structure in the present embodiment and
it can be modified variously within the range where it does not
deviate from the gist.
[0090] The first liquid crystal display device of the present
invention has a plurality of pixels provided on an insulating
substrate, a scanning line provided on the insulating substrate
which scans the pixels, liquid crystal which is interposed between
the insulating substrate and a counter substrate countered to the
insulating substrate, and areas where a voltage to be applied to
the liquid crystal varies in one pixel. A light shielding film for
preventing a light leakage due to alignment disorder of the liquid
crystal is provided to a boundary portion of the areas where the
voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies. As a result,
the viewing angle can be widened and the contrast can be
improved.
[0091] The second liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is formed that the pixels are composed of a first pixel
electrode and a second pixel electrode connected via an insulating
film in the areas where the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal varies in one pixel, and the second pixel electrode is
provided on a layer above the insulating film provided on a layer
above the first pixel electrode and by having an area where it is
not overlapped on the first pixel electrode in the first liquid
crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle can be
widened and the contrast can be improved.
[0092] The third liquid crystal display device of the present
invention is formed that the areas where the voltage to be applied
to the liquid crystal varies in one pixel are formed that an
insulating film on pixel electrodes composing the pixels and a part
of the insulating film on the pixel electrodes is removed in the
first liquid crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle
can be widened and the contrast can be improved.
[0093] In the fourth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, the light shielding film is formed by a conductive film
on the same layer as the scanning line in the first, second or
third liquid crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle
can be widened and the contrast can be improved, and further the
manufacturing steps can be simplified.
[0094] In the fifth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, the light shielding film is formed integrally with a
storage capacitance line provided in parallel with the scanning
line in the first, second or third liquid crystal display device.
As a result, the viewing angle can be widened, the contrast can be
improved, and further the manufacturing steps can be simplified, an
aperture ratio can be higher and a storage capacitance can be
secured sufficiently.
[0095] In the sixth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, the light shielding film is formed in a position where a
light leakage due to alignment disorder of the liquid crystal due
to the alignment treatment is prevented in one of the first through
fifth liquid crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle
can be widened, the light leakage due to the alignment disorder due
to the alignment treatment can be prevented, and the contrast can
be improved.
[0096] In the seventh liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, a ratio of the voltage to be applied to the liquid
crystal between the first pixel electrode and a counter electrode
formed on a surface on the counter substrate in contact with the
liquid crystal to the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
between the second pixel electrode and the counter electrode falls
within the range of 0.5:1.0 to 0.9:1.0 in the second liquid crystal
display device. As a result, the viewing angle can be widened and
the contrast can be improved.
[0097] In the eighth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, a ratio of the voltage to be applied to liquid crystal
between the pixel electrode where a part of the insulating film is
removed and the counter electrode formed on the surface on the
counter substrate in contact with the voltage to be applied to the
liquid crystal to voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal
between the insulating film on the pixel electrode and the counter
electrode falls within the range of 0.5:1.0 to 0.9:1.0 in the third
liquid crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle can
be further widened and the contrast can be further improved.
[0098] In the ninth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, the first pixel electrode is connected with the second
pixel electrode by forming a contact hole on the insulating film,
and the light shielding film for preventing the alignment disorder
of the liquid crystal is provided to the contact hole portion in
the second or seventh liquid crystal display device. As a result,
the viewing angle can be widened, the light leakage due to the
alignment disorder due to the alignment treatment can be prevented,
and the contrast can be further improved.
[0099] In the tenth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, the light shielding film for preventing the alignment
disorder of the liquid crystal on the contact hole portion is
formed by a black matrix on the counter substrate in the ninth
liquid crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle can
be widened, the contrast can be improved, and the manufacturing
steps can be simplified.
[0100] In the eleventh liquid crystal display device of the present
invention, the light shielding film for preventing the alignment
disorder of the liquid crystal on the contact hole portion is
formed by an opaque film on the insulating substrate in the ninth
liquid crystal display device. As a result, the viewing angle can
be widened and the contrast can be improved.
[0101] The twelfth liquid crystal display device of the present
invention further has alignment films which are provided
respectively on surfaces of the insulating substrate and the
counter substrate in contact with the liquid crystal and aligns the
liquid crystal, polarizers which are provided respectively on
surfaces of the insulating substrate and the counter substrate
opposite to the surface in contact with the liquid crystal, and
optical compensating films which are provided between the
polarizers and the insulating substrates and the counter substrate
and fixes an alignment state of the liquid crystal in one of the
first through eleventh liquid crystal display device. As a result,
the viewing angle can be further widened and the contrast can be
improved.
[0102] In the thirteenth liquid crystal display device of the
present invention, a product of a birefringence index .DELTA.n of
the liquid crystal and a thickness d of the liquid crystal layer
satisfies the relationship: 0.30 .mu.m.ltoreq..DELTA.nd.ltoreq.0.50
.mu.m in the twelfth liquid crystal display device. As a result,
the viewing angle can be further widened and the contrast can be
further improved.
[0103] The first liquid crystal display device manufacturing method
of the present invention, the liquid crystal display device having
a plurality of pixels provided on an insulating substrate, a
scanning line provided on the insulating substrate to scan the
pixels, and liquid crystal which is interposed between the
insulating substrate and a counter substrate countered to the
insulating substrate, the method includes the steps of forming
areas where a voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies on
one pixel, and forming a light shielding film for preventing a
light leakage due to alignment disorder of the liquid crystal on a
boundary portion of the areas where the voltage to be applied to
the liquid crystal varies. As a result, the liquid crystal display
device where the viewing angle is widened and the contrast is
improved can be obtained.
[0104] In the second liquid crystal display device manufacturing
method of the present invention, the step of forming the areas
where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies on one
pixel includes the steps of forming a first pixel electrode,
forming an insulating film on a layer above the first pixel
electrode, forming a contact hole on the insulating film, and
forming a second pixel electrode which has an area where it is not
overlapped on the first pixel electrode on a layer above the
insulating film and is connected with the first pixel electrode via
the contact hole in the first liquid crystal display device
manufacturing method. As a result, the liquid crystal display
device where the viewing angle is widened and the contrast is
improved can be obtained.
[0105] In the third liquid crystal display device manufacturing
method of the present invention, the step of forming the areas
where the voltage to be applied to the liquid crystal varies on one
pixel includes the steps of forming a pixel electrode, forming an
insulating film on a layer above the pixel electrode, and removing
a part of the insulating film from the pixel electrode in the first
liquid crystal display device manufacturing method. As a result,
the liquid crystal display device where the viewing angle is
widened and the contrast is improved can be obtained.
[0106] The fourth liquid crystal display device manufacturing
method of the present invention further includes the step of
forming a light shielding film for preventing alignment disorder of
the liquid crystal on the contact hole portion in the second liquid
crystal display device manufacturing method. As a result, the
liquid crystal display device where the viewing angle is widened
and the contrast is further improved can be obtained.
* * * * *