JP4442577B2 - Liquid crystal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid crystal device, and more particularly to a configuration of a liquid crystal device using a lateral electric field, and a projection display device and an electronic apparatus using the liquid crystal device.

  Conventionally, the demand for liquid crystal display devices is increasing not only as a direct-view type but also as a projection display element such as a projection television. When this liquid crystal display device is used as a projection type, if the enlargement ratio is increased with the conventional number of pixels, the roughness of the screen becomes conspicuous. Therefore, in order to obtain a fine image even at a high magnification, it is necessary to increase the number of pixels. However, when the number of pixels of the liquid crystal display device is increased, particularly in the active matrix liquid crystal display device, the area occupied by portions other than the pixels, for example, a wiring portion and a thin film transistor (active element) portion becomes relatively large. Since the area of the black matrix that covers this portion increases, the area of the pixel opening that contributes to display decreases, and the aperture ratio as a display device decreases. When this aperture ratio decreases, the screen becomes dark and the image quality as a liquid crystal display device is reduced.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the aperture ratio from being lowered due to the increase in the number of pixels as much as possible, some projection display devices are being shifted from transmissive liquid crystal panels to reflective liquid crystal panels. By making the liquid crystal panel reflective, wiring portions such as scanning lines and signal lines can be formed below the reflective electrode, and the aperture ratio of the pixel can be improved. In addition to the increase in the number of pixels, the cause of the decrease in the aperture ratio is that the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is not uniform within the pixel and the light efficiency is poor, resulting in a substantial decrease in the aperture ratio.

  However, even if such various types of projection display devices appear, when a high-resolution liquid crystal panel is used, the distance between the pixels, that is, the distance between the pixel electrode and the pixel electrode is reduced. There has been a problem that liquid crystal disclination (tilt) occurs due to the influence of a lateral electric field received from the peripheral edge of another adjacent pixel electrode, and a defect occurs in the display area. This display area defect will be described in detail below.

  In a liquid crystal panel for a current projector having a high definition structure, the width of a rectangular pixel electrode is reduced to about 20 μm square, and a plurality of such pixel electrodes are arranged in a matrix in the display area. . In such a high-definition liquid crystal panel that employs a reflective structure, a structure in which the switching elements formed on the substrate are covered with an insulating film and the pixel electrodes are arranged without gaps. By adopting it, the distance between pixel electrodes can be reduced to 1 μm or less.

  In such a high-definition liquid crystal panel having a structure in which the pixel electrode interval is narrowed, a strong lateral electric field acts on the liquid crystal present at the boundary between adjacent pixel electrodes. The liquid crystal that should be controlled between the common electrode and the pixel electrode originally formed on the inner surface of the counter substrate is likely to be oriented in different directions under the influence of the lateral electric field. That is, in the liquid crystal in the region whose orientation is to be controlled by the pixel electrode, a part of the liquid crystal is directed in a slightly different direction from the other liquid crystal, and the disclination line and the boundary region of the liquid crystal in which these alignment directions are slightly different There has been a problem of causing a linear display defect called. Further, when the width of the linear display defect was actually measured with this type of liquid crystal display device, it was found that the width was about 3 μm on average.

Such a problem of display defects due to a lateral electric field is occurring not only in a projection display device but also in a high-definition direct-view liquid crystal device.
For the purpose of eliminating such display defects, a liquid crystal device proposed in claims 50 to 65 of JP-A-11-202356 was examined. A conventional liquid crystal device controls a liquid crystal by a so-called vertical electric field generated by a pixel electrode and a common electrode respectively formed on a pair of substrate inner surfaces, whereas a horizontal electric field generated when the distance between the pixels is narrowed. This is an attempt to realize a liquid crystal device free from display defects by actively using it. However, the liquid crystal device proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-202356 relates to a transmissive liquid crystal device, and each condition and configuration can be applied only to the transmissive liquid crystal device.
However, the pixel electrode pattern of the liquid crystal device has a comb shape as shown in FIG. In the portion 731 where the electric field generated between the electrodes is parallel, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned parallel to the electric field. However, in the portion 732 where the electrode shape is complicated, the electric field does not act on the liquid crystal molecules in a certain direction, so that the liquid crystal molecules are not aligned in one direction. If the electrode pattern that generates a horizontal electric field is parallel between adjacent pixels, even if a horizontal electric field is used, a display defect occurs, the aperture ratio is reduced, and the expected effect cannot be obtained. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and prevents a display defect caused by disclination from occurring in a high-definition liquid crystal display device in which a pixel-to-pixel interval is narrow, and has high contrast. It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal device, a projection display device, and an electronic device that enable bright display.

Means taken by the present invention to solve the above problems are as follows.
The liquid crystal device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, a scanning signal line, an image signal line, a first electrode, a first electrode formed on a surface of the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. In the liquid crystal device including two electrodes and an active element, and driving the liquid crystal layer by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode is an insulating film on the rectangular second electrode And the insulating film has a plurality of color filters.

The liquid crystal device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a plurality of scanning signal lines, image signal lines, and first electrodes formed on the surface of the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. A liquid crystal device comprising a second electrode and an active element, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured so that an electric field substantially parallel to a substrate surface can be applied to the liquid crystal layer; Is formed in a linear shape having a predetermined line width on the second electrode through an insulating film, and when an electric field substantially parallel to the substrate surface is generated for the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer, The pixel region formed by the first electrode and the second electrode has a plurality of regions having different directions in which the alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes.
According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate a display defect such as discnation caused by a horizontal electric field by adjacent pixels and to realize a bright and high-contrast display. The formation of disclinations occurring at the pixel ends can be prevented by forming regions in the pixel in which the direction in which the alignment of liquid crystal molecules changes is different. In addition, the liquid crystal device can be prevented from being colored with respect to a change in viewing angle.

  The liquid crystal device according to the present invention is characterized in that the areas of the plurality of regions having different directions in which the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules changes are substantially equal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate a display defect such as discnation caused by a horizontal electric field by adjacent pixels, and to realize a bright and high-contrast display. Since the areas of the plurality of regions having different arrangement changing directions are approximately equal to each other, a display having no color can be realized from any angle. In addition, a bright display with no disclination can be expected over the entire pixel.

  The liquid crystal device according to the present invention is characterized by having a portion that is not parallel or perpendicular to any of the first electrode, the pre-scan signal line, and the image signal line.

  According to the present invention, the pre-scan signal lines and the image signal lines are arranged in a matrix in the screen, and at least one active element provided corresponding to each intersection and the first element connected to the active element. By not arranging the electrodes in parallel or perpendicular to any of them, the liquid crystal molecules can be aligned in parallel with the scanning signal lines or the image signal lines. By this means, a liquid crystal device corresponding to the optical polarization beam splitter used in the projection type liquid crystal device can be produced without reducing the light efficiency.

  The liquid crystal device according to the present invention is characterized in that the first electrode is generally formed in a “<” shape of a hiragana character.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal device with little change in viewing angle due to liquid crystal. By making the electrode shape in one pixel “<”, there are two directions of the transverse electric field in one pixel, so that the alignment state of the liquid crystal can be two in one pixel, and the viewing angle A liquid crystal device with little change can be realized. In addition, the liquid crystal can be aligned (initial alignment when no voltage is applied) in the longitudinal direction of the first substrate and the second substrate or in a direction orthogonal thereto. By doing so, polarized light having a transmission axis can be incident on the liquid crystal device in the longitudinal direction of the first substrate and the second substrate or in a direction orthogonal thereto. For example, the polarization beam splitter (PBS) used in the projection display device is limited in the polarization direction of the output polarized light because of its structure, so the liquid crystal device of the present invention is very convenient. In some cases, a multi-domain structure can be easily created by arranging “ku” in one pixel.

  The liquid crystal device according to the present invention is characterized in that the first electrode is formed in an alphabetical “U” in an oblique shape “U”.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal device with little change in viewing angle due to liquid crystal. By making the electrode shape in one pixel “U”, the direction of the transverse electric field exists in multiple directions within one pixel, which makes it possible to create a large number of liquid crystal alignment states within one pixel and change the viewing angle. Can be realized. In addition, the liquid crystal can be aligned (initial alignment when no voltage is applied) in the longitudinal direction of the first substrate and the second substrate or in a direction orthogonal thereto. By doing so, polarized light having a transmission axis can be incident on the liquid crystal device in the longitudinal direction of the first substrate and the second substrate or in a direction orthogonal thereto. For example, the polarization beam splitter (PBS) used in the projection display device is limited in the polarization direction of the output polarized light because of its structure, so the liquid crystal device of the present invention is very convenient. In some cases, a multi-domain structure can be easily created by arranging "U" in one pixel. In this case, the letters “U” are alternately arranged upside down.

  The liquid crystal device according to the present invention is characterized in that the first electrode is generally formed in an alphabetical “N” slanted shape “N”.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a liquid crystal device with little change in viewing angle due to liquid crystal. By making the electrode shape in one pixel “N”, the direction of the transverse electric field exists in multiple directions within one pixel, which makes it possible to create a large number of liquid crystal alignment states within one pixel and change the viewing angle. Can be realized. In addition, the liquid crystal can be aligned (initial alignment when no voltage is applied) in the longitudinal direction of the first substrate and the second substrate or in a direction orthogonal thereto. By doing so, polarized light having a transmission axis can be incident on the liquid crystal device in the longitudinal direction of the first substrate and the second substrate or in a direction orthogonal thereto. For example, the polarization beam splitter (PBS) used in the projection display device is limited in the polarization direction of the output polarized light because of its structure, so the liquid crystal device of the present invention is very convenient. In some cases, it is possible to easily create a multi-domain structure by arranging “N” in one pixel. In this case, the letters “N” are alternately arranged upside down.

  In the liquid crystal device of the present invention, the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal is negative, and when the angle between the longitudinal direction of the first electrode linear shape and the initial orientation direction of the liquid crystal molecules is φ, the relationship that φ satisfies is 45. Degree ≦ φ <90 degrees.

  According to the present invention, the liquid crystal can be aligned (initial alignment when no voltage is applied) in the longitudinal direction of the first electrode or in a direction perpendicular thereto. By doing so, polarized light having a transmission axis can be incident on the liquid crystal device in the longitudinal direction of the first electrode or in the direction orthogonal thereto. For example, the polarization beam splitter (PBS) used in the projection display device is limited in the polarization direction of the output polarized light because of its structure, so the liquid crystal device of the present invention is very convenient. In addition, 65 degrees ≦ φ ≦ 85 degrees is a more preferable range.

A projection display device according to the present invention includes any one of the liquid crystal devices described above.
According to the present invention, a bright and high-contrast projection display device can be realized.

An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes any one of the liquid crystal devices described above.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electronic device with high visibility which mounts the direct-view type liquid crystal device with a bright and high contrast is realizable.

  A liquid crystal device, a projection display device, and an electronic device capable of preventing a display defect caused by disclination and enabling a high-contrast and bright display for a high-definition liquid crystal display device in which the distance between pixels is narrow Equipment can be realized.

  Next, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the structure of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a front view of one pixel, and FIG. 1B is a sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. One pixel is a region 117 configured by an electrode pattern including one contact hole 105. The liquid crystal layer 103 is sandwiched between the two substrates 101 and 102. An alignment film 104 is formed on the inner surface of the upper substrate 101. In the lower substrate 102, a second electrode 107, an insulating film 108 made of SiOx, a first electrode 106, and an alignment film 104 are formed inside. The first electrode 106 is a linear transparent electrode, and the second electrode 107 is a rectangular reflective electrode. The second electrode 107 has a function of reflecting light incident from the upper substrate 101 side. The liquid crystal 103 is controlled by an external drive circuit with an electric field generated by a potential difference between the first electrode 106 and the second electrode 107. Since this reflection type liquid crystal device actively generates a horizontal electric field that has been a cause of display defects in the past and controls the liquid crystal, the horizontal electric field is the same as when a vertical electric field is applied between the upper and lower substrates. There is no display defect such as discnation caused by it. For this reason, a bright and high contrast reflective liquid crystal display could be realized.

  In the present embodiment, the second electrode 107 is a reflective electrode and the first electrode 106 is a transparent electrode made of ITO. However, the first electrode 106 may also be a reflective electrode. The reflective electrode is mainly composed of Al (aluminum), Ag (silver), Cr (chromium), Ta (tantalum), Ni (nickel), Au (gold), Cu (copper), Pt (platinum), or the like. Alloys can be used. By using these metal alloys, a reflective liquid crystal device with high reflectivity can be realized.

  In this embodiment, SiOx is used for the insulating film 108, but a transparent resin such as SiNx or acrylic may be used. These materials can realize high insulation. A material having a transmittance of 80% or more is preferably used for the insulating film 108 of this embodiment. SiOx, SiNx, and acrylic resin are excellent materials in this respect. Further, when the insulating film 108 is a color filter, the light reflected by the second electrode is colored and a reflective color display can be achieved. In order to perform full color display, it is preferable to form red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters corresponding to each pixel. For example, a red (R) color filter is formed in one pixel region 117 shown in FIG. 1A, and a green (G) color filter is formed in the right adjacent pixel region 118.

A nematic liquid crystal material exhibiting negative dielectric anisotropy was used for the liquid crystal device of this embodiment. As a result, display defects due to unnecessary vertical electric field components generated in the normal direction of the upper substrate 101 and the lower substrate 102 in the electric field 118 generated between the first electrode 106 and the second electrode 107 can be eliminated. This is because the liquid crystal has a negative dielectric anisotropy, so that the liquid crystal is oriented vertically with respect to the longitudinal electric field. When the dielectric anisotropy of the liquid crystal is positive, the electric field generated between the first electrode 106 and the second electrode 107 causes the major axis component of the liquid crystal to be aligned in the direction of the counter substrate 101, and thus a display defect is generated. In addition, since a liquid crystal material containing a liquid crystal having a cyano group was used, the dielectric anisotropy was large, and the liquid crystal could be controlled at a low voltage. As a result, a liquid crystal device with low power consumption can be realized. Furthermore, high-speed response is possible by mixing chiral into the liquid crystal material.
In this embodiment, the alignment films 104 and 105 are rubbed with a polyimide organic film, but an alignment film obtained by obliquely depositing SiOx in vacuum may be used. By applying in this way, there was no generation of static electricity and dust, and the manufacturing yield was dramatically improved.

An active element is connected to the pixel electrode 106 in FIG. 1, and an arbitrary potential corresponding to data is written from a data line (not shown) by switching of the active element. In accordance with the potential, an electric field 118 is generated between the pixel electrode 106 and the common electrode 107 to drive the liquid crystal molecules 513. Since the longitudinal directions 109 and 110 of 106 are not parallel, a liquid crystal device in which the alignment state during application of an electric field is different between the two pixels and the change in viewing angle is small can be realized. For example, when white display is performed on the entire screen of the liquid crystal device, the liquid crystal has almost the same orientation due to the transverse electric field in any part. When this substantially uniform liquid crystal alignment state is observed through a polarizing plate, viewing angle characteristics exist as in a conventional liquid crystal device. Therefore, when the longitudinal directions of the electrodes are made non-parallel between adjacent pixels as in the present invention, the liquid crystal alignment state (alignment direction) differs between the pixels, so that a liquid crystal device with little change in viewing angle can be realized. it can. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), the alphabet “U” is an italic “U” shape, but the “N” italic “N” in FIG. It was confirmed that a liquid crystal device with little change in viewing angle with the shape of FIG. 2 can be realized.
Here, the pixel pattern shape is defined such that the longitudinal direction of the electrode is parallel, non-parallel or oblique with respect to the gate line 722 or the data line 721 of FIG. 8 described in the prior art.

(Second Embodiment)
In the liquid crystal device having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the shape of the pixel region is a parallelogram as shown in FIG. Accordingly, the bent portions (corners) of the pixel electrode 201 are all formed at the same angle but not at a right angle but are formed in an oblique comb-teeth shape, and thus a parallelogram region is formed when the apexes are connected. In the present embodiment, a TFT element (not shown) and a common electrode 202 as a second electrode are formed in this order on the lower substrate. An oblique comb-teeth-shaped pixel electrode 201 is formed on the common electrode 202 via an insulating film, and the pixel electrode 201 is connected to a lower TFT element at a contact portion 203. One region 209 divided by a dotted line in FIG. 3A represents one pixel (the pitch of this one pixel is P). The arrangement direction 204 of the comb teeth extending in a linear shape of the pixel electrode 201 formed in a linear oblique comb shape is defined by a short direction 207 and a long direction 206 of the liquid crystal panel 205 shown in FIG. Are neither parallel nor orthogonal. By doing so, the liquid crystal molecules can be initially aligned in the short direction 207 or the long direction 206 of the liquid crystal panel 205 (alignment when no electric field is applied). In order to incline the liquid crystal with respect to the direction of the horizontal electric field generated between the pixel electrode 201 and the common electrode 202, the liquid crystal is parallel or perpendicular to the length direction 204 of the comb teeth extending linearly of the pixel electrode 201. The initial orientation must be performed with a predetermined angle with respect to the length direction 204 of the comb teeth extending linearly without initial orientation. This is because the liquid crystal is uniformly controlled with respect to the lateral electric field. Polarized light having a transmission axis in the lateral direction 207 or the longitudinal direction 206 of the liquid crystal panel 205 can be incident on the reflective liquid crystal device. For example, a polarization beam splitter (PBS) used in a projection display device has a structure that limits the polarization direction of output polarized light, and is usually in the short direction 207 or the long direction 206 of the liquid crystal panel 205. The liquid crystal device of the invention is very convenient.

  Further, if the angle formed by the length direction 204 of the comb teeth extending linearly of the linear pixel electrode and the longitudinal direction of the liquid crystal panel is β, it is preferable that 3 ° ≦ β ≦ 87 °. This is because the liquid crystal can be initially aligned in the lateral direction 207 or the longitudinal direction 206 of the liquid crystal panel 205 as described above. Note that 5 ° ≦ β ≦ 25 ° or 65 ° ≦ β ≦ 85 ° is a more preferable range. By setting this range, the liquid crystal can be controlled with a lower voltage.

(Third embodiment)
In the liquid crystal device having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the second electrode 107 is a transparent electrode made of ITO, and the first electrode 106 is also a transparent electrode made of ITO. This liquid crystal device has a large aperture ratio and a bright display with no display defects even when compared with a conventional display mode using a lateral electric field (referred to as an IPS mode). This is because in the IPS mode, the liquid crystal molecules on the electrode do not move and do not contribute to display.
However, in the structure of the present invention, liquid crystal molecules on the electrode move, which contributes to display.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of a projection display device (liquid crystal projector) as an application example using the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal projector in the XY plane passing through the center of the optical element 350.

  The liquid crystal projector according to the present embodiment includes a polarization illumination device 300 that is roughly configured by a concave mirror 310 disposed along the system optical axis L, a light source unit 320, and a polarization conversion element 330 including first and second integrator lenses. Of the light reflected from the S-polarized light beam reflecting surface 341 of the polarizing beam splitter 340, the S-polarized light beam 340 that reflects the S-polarized light beam emitted from the polarized illumination device 300 by the S-polarized light beam reflecting surface 341, blue light (B ), A reflective liquid crystal light valve 345B that modulates the separated blue light (B), and reflects the red light (R) component of the luminous flux after the blue light is separated. A dichroic mirror 343 that separates the separated red light (R), a reflective liquid crystal light valve 345R that modulates the separated red light (R), a dichroic mirror The light modulated by the reflective liquid crystal light valve 345G and the three reflective liquid crystal light valves 345R, 345G, and 345B for modulating the green light (G) of the remaining light that passes through the mirror 343 is dichroic mirrors 343, 342, The projection optical system 350 includes a projection lens that is synthesized by the polarization beam splitter 340 and projects the synthesized light onto the screen 360. Each of the three reflective liquid crystal light valves 345R, 345G, and 345B uses the liquid crystal display device (liquid crystal panel) described in the above embodiment.

  A random polarized light beam emitted from the light source unit 320 as a substantially parallel light beam by the concave mirror 310 is divided into a plurality of intermediate light beams by the integrator lens, and then the second integrator lens is moved to the light incident side. The polarized light conversion element 330 converts the polarized light beam into one type of polarized light beam (S-polarized light beam), and then reaches the polarization beam splitter 340. The S-polarized light beam emitted from the polarization conversion element 330 is reflected by the S-polarized light beam reflecting surface 341 of the polarization beam splitter 340, and among the reflected light beams, the blue light (B) light beam is the blue light of the dichroic mirror 342. Reflected by the reflective layer and modulated by the reflective liquid crystal light valve 345B. Of the light beams that have passed through the blue light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 342, the red light (R) light beam is reflected by the red light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 343 and modulated by the reflective liquid crystal light valve 345R. . On the other hand, the luminous flux of green light (G) transmitted through the red light reflecting layer of the dichroic mirror 343 is modulated by the reflective liquid crystal light valve 345G. As described above, the color light is modulated by the reflective liquid crystal light valves 345R, 345G, and 345B.

  Of the color light reflected from the pixels of the liquid crystal panel, the S-polarized component does not pass through the polarization beam splitter 340 that reflects S-polarized light, and the P-polarized component passes through it. An image is formed by the light transmitted through the polarization beam splitter 340.

  The reflective liquid crystal panel uses a semiconductor technology to form pixels compared to an active matrix liquid crystal panel in which a TFT array is formed on a glass substrate. Therefore, the number of pixels can be increased and the panel size can be reduced. It can project fine images and contribute to miniaturization of the projector itself. In addition, since the reflective liquid crystal panel of the present invention has a high reflectivity because a display defect due to a horizontal electric field hardly occurs even when the resolution is increased, a bright projection display can be obtained.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the present embodiment, in the liquid crystal device having the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, a plurality of first electrodes in which two “<” shapes are wired in one pixel are formed. FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof. One pixel is an area indicated by 401, and four first electrodes in which two "<" shapes are continuously formed in one pixel are arranged so as to be parallel to each other. An active element (not shown) formed on the lower substrate below the first electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode through a contact hole 402 provided at one end of each first electrode. ing. With the configuration of this embodiment, the liquid crystal molecules can easily be multi-domained within one pixel. That is, the liquid crystal molecules 413 are oriented in two directions within one pixel 401, thereby forming two domains within one pixel. Therefore, a liquid crystal device having a bright contrast with no color change in the viewing direction and no decrease in aperture ratio due to poor liquid crystal alignment could be realized.

(Sixth embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the structure of the sixth embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the present invention. A structure in which a liquid crystal layer 503 is sandwiched between two substrates 501 and 502 is employed. A color filter 507 and an alignment film 508 are sequentially formed on the inner surface (the surface on which the liquid crystal is disposed) of the upper substrate 501. Two retardation plates 506 and 505 and a polarizing plate 504 are sequentially formed on the outer surface of the upper substrate 501 (the surface opposite to the side where the liquid crystal is disposed). In the lower substrate 502, a second electrode 512, an insulating film 510 made of SiOx, a first electrode 511, and an alignment film 509 are formed. The first electrode 511 is a linear transparent electrode, and the second electrode 512 is a rectangular reflective electrode. The second electrode 512 is formed of aluminum, silver, or an alloy containing silver as a main component, and has a function of reflecting light incident from the upper substrate 501 side. The liquid crystal 503 is controlled by an external driving circuit with an electric field 528 generated by a potential difference between the first electrode 511 and the second electrode 512. Since this reflective liquid crystal device actively generates a horizontal electric field that has been a cause of display defects in the past and controls the liquid crystal, the horizontal electric field is the same as when a vertical electric field is applied between the conventional upper and lower substrates. There is no display defect such as discnation caused by it. For this reason, it was possible to realize a bright and high-contrast reflective color liquid crystal display.

  Next, a specific example of an electronic apparatus provided with the reflective color liquid crystal display device will be described.

  FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone.

  FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing an example of a portable information processing apparatus.

  Each of the electronic devices shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B includes the reflective color liquid crystal display device described above, and has the characteristics of the liquid crystal display device of any of the embodiments described above. Regardless of which liquid crystal display device is used, a high-definition display with a high contrast ratio can be obtained.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a first embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the other structure of 1st Embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 2nd Embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 4th Embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 5th Embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of 6th Embodiment of the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic of the electronic device carrying the liquid crystal device which concerns on this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the liquid crystal device which concerns on a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

101, 501 Upper substrate 102, 502 Lower substrate 103, 513 Liquid crystal layer 117, 118 One pixel region 104, 509 Alignment film 5
106, 201, 511, 701 First electrode (pixel electrode)
107, 202, 512, 702 Second electrode (common electrode)
108, 510 Insulating film 128, 528 Electric field direction 208, 308 Second insulating film 209, 309 First insulating film 105, 203, 502 Opening (contact hole)
109, 110, 204 Longitudinal direction of linear pixel electrode 205 Liquid crystal panel 206 Long axis direction of liquid crystal panel 207 Short axis direction of liquid crystal panel 401 1 Pixel 504 Polarizing plate 505, 506 Retardation plate 507 Color filter 113, 413, 513 Liquid crystal Molecule 721 Data line 722 Gate line 731 and 732 Area in plan view

Claims (1)

A liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, and a scanning signal line, an image signal line, a first electrode, a second electrode, and an active element formed on the surface of the second substrate on the liquid crystal layer side. In the liquid crystal device that drives the liquid crystal layer by an electric field generated between the first electrode and the second electrode,
The liquid crystal device, wherein the first electrode is formed on the rectangular second electrode through an insulating film, and the insulating film includes a plurality of color filters.

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