JP4655734B2 - Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus.

Conventionally, an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device is known as a display unit of a mobile phone or the like.
The electro-optical device performs image display by controlling the amount of light for each of a plurality of dots in a unit pixel by adjusting a voltage applied to an electro-optical material such as a liquid crystal device sandwiched between opposing electrodes. Yes.
In such an electro-optical device, a configuration is known in which the layer thickness of the electro-optical material is maintained constant by a spacer fixed to one substrate. In addition, a technique in which such a spacer is provided so as to overlap a light shielding portion between a plurality of dots is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-344843 A

However, such a liquid crystal device has a problem in that display unevenness occurs near the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region.
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus that can suppress display unevenness.

In the vicinity of the boundary between the display area and the peripheral area, the present inventor tends to make the product Δretard of the birefringence of the liquid crystal layer and the thickness of the liquid crystal layer (retardation), which causes display unevenness. I found.
Therefore, the present inventor has come up with the present invention having the following means based on the above.

  In other words, the electro-optical device of the present invention is an electro-optical device that includes an electro-optical material sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate and performs display in a display area composed of a plurality of dots. And the second substrate, the protrusion provided on the inner side of one of the substrates contacts the other substrate side, whereby the layer thickness of the electro-optic material is defined, and the dots of the display area A light shielding film is provided between each other and a peripheral area outside the display area, and the display area includes a part of a colored film that colors light emitted from the dots and the light shielding film. Overlapping stacked portions are provided, and the protrusions are provided at positions corresponding to the stacked portions in the display region and positions corresponding to the light shielding film in the peripheral region, and the display regions and the peripheral regions Each area In this case, the ratio of the installation area where the protrusions are provided to the predetermined area is the protrusion density, and the protrusion density in a part of the peripheral area is higher than the protrusion density in the display area. It is characterized by being expensive.

Here, the electro-optical material or the electro-optical device includes an electro-optical effect that changes the light transmittance by changing the refractive index of the material by an electric field, and a device that converts electric energy into optical energy. Are collectively called. Therefore, it is a concept including a light emitting device represented by a liquid crystal device, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) device, an inorganic EL device, and the like.
In addition, the “projection density” is the area of the portion where the projection is arranged in the unit area in each of the display area and the peripheral area (the product of the area per projection and the number of projections) Means.
In the present invention, the “position corresponding to the laminated portion” and the “position corresponding to the light shielding film” mean overlapping when viewed from the display side of the electro-optical device. Accordingly, the protrusion is provided so as to overlap with the laminated portion of the display area when viewed from the display side of the electro-optical device, and also overlaps with the light shielding film in the peripheral area.

In the present invention, it is preferable that an overcoat film is provided above the laminated portion in the display region and the light shielding film in the peripheral region, and planarization is performed by covering the overcoat film. The
In the case where the electro-optical device of the present invention is a liquid crystal device, it is preferable that an alignment film is provided on a surface in contact with the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the electro-optical material.
Further, in the display area, a part of the colored film may be provided above the light shielding film between the dots to form a stacked portion, or a part of the colored film is provided below the light shielding film. It may be done.
The protrusions are regularly arranged in each of the display area and the peripheral area, and have elasticity. Therefore, the protruding portion is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, and when the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded together, compressive stress is generated in the protruding portion in the direction in which both the substrates face each other. Thereby, the layer thickness of the electro-optic material is maintained between the first substrate and the second substrate.

In such a configuration, when the substrate surface is used as a reference, the height of the display region to the upper surface of the stacked portion is higher than the height of the peripheral region to the upper surface of the light shielding film. When the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other by providing the protrusion corresponding to each part as in the above configuration, the protrusion of the stacked portion has a larger compressive stress than the protrusion of the light shielding film in the peripheral region. It will be given and the projection part of a lamination part will change (crush).
Here, in the related art, the protrusion of the laminated portion is deformed, so that the layer thickness of the electro-optical material in the vicinity of the protrusion is reduced, resulting in display unevenness. On the other hand, in the present invention, since the protrusion density in a part of the peripheral region is higher than the protrusion density in the display area, the compressive stress of the protrusion in the portion where the protrusion density is high can be reduced. The deformation (collapse) of the protrusion can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the thickness of the electro-optical material from being reduced, and to make the thickness of the electro-optical material uniform at the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region. Therefore, an electro-optical device in which display unevenness is suppressed can be realized.
Further, since the peripheral region is a portion covered with the light shielding film, it does not contribute to display regardless of the size of the protrusions. Therefore, it is possible to freely adjust the density of the protrusions in the peripheral region.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the number of protrusions per unit area in a part of the peripheral region is larger than the number of protrusions per unit area in the display region.
Thus, by defining the number of protrusions, the protrusion density in a part of the peripheral area can be made higher than the protrusion density in the display area. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the compressive stress of the protrusion in the portion where the protrusion density is high, and to suppress deformation (collapse) of the protrusion. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the thickness of the electro-optical material from being reduced, and to make the thickness of the electro-optical material uniform at the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the area of each protrusion in a part of the peripheral area is larger than the area of each protrusion in the display area.
Thus, by defining the size of the area in each protrusion, the protrusion density in a part of the peripheral area can be made higher than the protrusion density in the display area. It is possible to reduce the compressive stress of the protrusion in the portion where the protrusion density is high, and to suppress deformation (collapse) of the protrusion. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the thickness of the electro-optical material from being reduced, and to make the thickness of the electro-optical material uniform at the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the peripheral area includes a proximity area that is close to the display area and a peripheral area that is positioned at the periphery of the proximity area. The protrusion density of the display area is higher than that of the display area, and the protrusion density of the peripheral area is lower than the protrusion density of the adjacent area.
Here, the proximity region is a region corresponding to “a part of the peripheral region” in the above configuration. Accordingly, since the density of the protrusions in the proximity region is higher than the density of the protrusions in the display region, the compressive stress of the protrusions in the proximity region can be reduced, and deformation (collapse) of the protrusions can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the thickness of the electro-optical material from being reduced, and to make the thickness of the electro-optical material uniform at the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region.

Further, since the density of the protrusions in the peripheral region is lower than the density of the protrusions in the adjacent region, the first substrate and the second substrate in the peripheral region are easily bent, and between the metal terminals of the first substrate and the second substrate. The arranged conductive particles can be crushed, and conduction between the metal terminals can be reliably obtained.
In the peripheral region, although the layer thickness of the electro-optical material is reduced, the region does not contribute to display, and thus display unevenness does not occur.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the thickness of the colored film is larger than the thickness of the light shielding film.
Here, according to the present inventors, the electro-optic material is caused by the layer thickness difference between the electro-optic material above the laminated portion and the electro-optic material above the colored film inside the laminated portion (inside the dots). It has been found that the drive voltage of the display tends to vary, and color unevenness occurs, resulting in poor display characteristics. Therefore, by making the thickness of the colored film larger than the thickness of the light shielding film, the display region can be flattened, and the layer of the electro-optic material above the stacked portion and the electro-optic material above the colored film The thickness can be made uniform. Therefore, display with high contrast can be performed in the display area.

In the electro-optical device according to the aspect of the invention, the layer thickness of the electro-optical material at a position corresponding to the stacked portion of the display region is greater than the layer thickness of the electro-optical material at a position corresponding to the light shielding film in the peripheral region. It is also characterized by being thin.
Here, the “layer thickness of the electro-optical material at a position corresponding to the stacked portion” means the layer thickness of the electro-optical material near the portion where the stacked portion is formed. In other words, it means the thickness of the electro-optical material in the vicinity of the protrusion provided at a position corresponding to the laminated portion.
The “layer thickness of the electro-optical material at a position corresponding to the light-shielding film” means the layer thickness of the electro-optical material at the portion where the light-shielding film is formed, or a protrusion provided at a position corresponding to the light-shielding film. Means the thickness of the electro-optical material in the vicinity of.
As described above, according to the present invention, not only the same effect as the electro-optical device described above can be obtained, but also the thickness of the electro-optical material at the position corresponding to the laminated portion of the display area can be adjusted to the light-shielding film in the peripheral area. It can be made thinner than the layer thickness of the electro-optical material at the position.

  The electro-optical device of the present invention is an electro-optical device that includes an electro-optical material sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, and performs display in a display region composed of a plurality of dots. And a plurality of protrusions defining a layer thickness of the electro-optic material are disposed between the display area and the second substrate, and the plurality of protrusions are provided in the display area and the peripheral area, respectively. The layer thickness of the electro-optical material corresponding to the position where the protrusion is disposed is larger than the layer thickness of the electro-optical material corresponding to the position where the protrusion is disposed in the peripheral region outside the display region. In each of the display area and the peripheral area, the ratio of the installation area where the protrusion is provided to the predetermined area is defined as the protrusion density, and the protrusion density in a part of the peripheral area Is Higher than the protrusion density definitive serial display region is characterized.

Here, “the layer thickness of the electro-optical material corresponding to the position where the protrusions in the display area are arranged” means the layer thickness of the electro-optical material in the vicinity of the position where the protrusions in the display area are arranged To do. In addition, “the layer thickness of the electro-optical material corresponding to the position where the protrusion is arranged in the peripheral region” means the layer thickness of the electro-optical material in the vicinity of the position where the protrusion of the peripheral region is arranged. .
According to the present invention, since the protrusion density in a part of the peripheral area is higher than the protrusion density in the display area, it is possible to reduce the compressive stress of the protrusion in the portion where the protrusion density is high. Deformation (collapse) can be suppressed. Thereby, an electro-optical device in which display unevenness is suppressed can be realized.
Further, since the peripheral region is a portion covered with the light shielding film, it does not contribute to display regardless of the size of the protrusions. Therefore, it is possible to freely adjust the density of the protrusions in the peripheral region.
In addition, the layer thickness of the electro-optical material corresponding to the position where the protrusions in the display area are arranged may be made thinner than the layer thickness of the electro-optical material corresponding to the position where the protrusions in the peripheral area are arranged. it can.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including a display unit, wherein the display unit includes the electro-optical device described above.
Here, as an electronic device, information processing apparatuses, such as a mobile telephone, a mobile information terminal, a clock, a word processor, a personal computer, etc. can be illustrated, for example.
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the display unit using the electro-optical device described above is provided, an electronic apparatus including the display unit in which display unevenness is suppressed can be provided.

(First Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a liquid crystal device according to an electro-optical device of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a display area of the liquid crystal device, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB ′ in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the state cut | disconnected. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the vicinity of the boundary between the display area and the peripheral area of the liquid crystal device. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region of the liquid crystal device, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. 1 (cross-sectional view showing a state cut in the horizontal direction). 4A is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid crystal device.
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

The liquid crystal device in the present embodiment is a passive-matrix transmissive color liquid crystal device, and is a normally black mode liquid crystal device that displays black when the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer is in an OFF (non-application) state.
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a lower substrate portion (first substrate) 2 </ b> A and an upper substrate portion (second substrate) 3 </ b> A having a rectangular shape in plan view through a sealing material 4. Opposed. A part of the sealing material 4 is opened on one side (upper side in FIG. 1) of each of the substrate portions 2A and 3A to form a liquid crystal injection port 5, and is surrounded by both the substrate portions 2A and 3A and the sealing material 4. Liquid crystal is sealed in the space, and the liquid crystal inlet 5 is sealed with a sealing material 6. In the present embodiment, the outer dimension of the lower substrate portion 2A is larger than that of the upper substrate portion 3A, and edges are aligned on one side (the upper side, the right side, and the left side in FIG. 1) of the upper substrate portion 3A and the lower substrate portion 2A. However, the peripheral portion of the upper substrate portion 3A protrudes from the remaining one side (the lower side in FIG. 1) of the lower substrate portion 2A. A driving semiconductor element 7 for driving both electrodes of the upper substrate portion 3A and the lower substrate portion 2A is mounted on an end portion on the lower side of the upper substrate portion 3A.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a boundary line between the display area 9a and the peripheral area 9b.
Here, the side (inside) included from the boundary line 8 is a display area 9a for performing image display. The display area 9a is an area in which a plurality of dots are arranged in a matrix and actually contributes to display.
The outside of the boundary line 8 is a peripheral area 9b located outside the display area 9a. In FIG. 1, the peripheral area 9b is indicated by diagonal lines. The peripheral region 9b is provided with a peripheral light shielding film that functions as a peripheral parting.

In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of segment electrodes 11 extending linearly in the vertical direction in the figure are formed in stripes on the upper substrate portion 3A. On the other hand, on the lower substrate portion 2A, a plurality of common electrodes 10 extending linearly in the horizontal direction in the figure so as to be orthogonal to the segment electrodes 11 are formed in stripes.
Here, when the segment electrode 11 and the common electrode 10 cross each other, a region overlapping in plan view is formed, and the region constitutes a “dot”.
Each of the plurality of dots in the display area 9a is provided with a colored film composed of a plurality of colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue) of the color filter in order to perform color display. One pixel (unit pixel) on the screen is constituted by three colored films of R, G, and B.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the cross-sectional structure of display area 9a is viewed, liquid crystal device 1 has a configuration in which liquid crystal layer (electro-optical material) 23 is sandwiched between lower substrate portion 2A and upper substrate portion 3A. Yes.
Here, on the lower substrate portion 2A, from the lower substrate (first substrate) 2 toward the liquid crystal layer 23, the color filter 13 (colored films 13r, 13g, 13b), the dot light shielding film (light shielding film) 33, and the overcoat are provided. A film 21, a common electrode 10, and an alignment film 20 are provided. The upper substrate portion 3 </ b> A is provided with a segment electrode 11, a photo spacer (projection portion) 24, and an alignment film 22 from the upper substrate (second substrate) 3 toward the liquid crystal layer 23. The photo spacer 24 is sandwiched between the upper substrate portion 3A and the lower substrate 2A, so that the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is maintained.

Next, the configuration of the lower substrate portion 2A will be described in detail.
The lower substrate 2 is made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic, and transmits light from the backlight unit 15.
The color filter 13 includes a red coloring film 13r, a green coloring film 13g, and a blue coloring film 13b on the lower substrate 2. Each colored film 13r, 13g, 13b is made of a resin material and has a thickness of 1.0 μm.
The thickness of each colored film 13r, 13g, 13b is not limited to 1.0 μm, and may be in the range of about 0.6 to 2.0 μm.

The dot light shielding film 33 is made of a light shielding resin material such as resin black. The dot light shielding film 33 is located between the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b, and is provided so as to partition the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b. The dot light-shielding film 33 is formed with the same film thickness as the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b, and the film thickness is 1.0 μm. The dot light shielding film 33 is formed so that the line width is 13 μm. The dot light shielding film 33 is formed in the same process as the peripheral light shielding film 34 (described later) formed on the surface of the peripheral region 9b.
The film thickness of the dot light-shielding film 33 is not limited to 1.0 μm and may be in the range of about 0.6 to 2.0 μm.

The colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b are provided for each dot by the dot light-shielding film 33.
As shown in FIG. 3, the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b constitute a part of each of the stripe colored films 13sr, 13sg, and 13sb formed in a stripe shape for each color. The stripe colored films 13sr, 13sg, and 13sb are provided so as to extend in the vertical direction of the display area 9a, and are provided so as to overlap a plurality of dots in the extending direction. The stripe colored films 13sr, 13sg, and 13sb straddle the dot light shielding film 33 extending in the left-right direction in FIG. It will be a part that does not contribute to. Therefore, the dot light-shielding film 33 extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 partitions each colored film 13r, 13g, 13b for each dot in the direction in which the stripe colored film extends. Further, the dot light-shielding film 33 extending in the vertical direction on the paper surface in FIG. 3 partitions the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b for each dot in the horizontal direction on the paper surface. Thus, by providing the dot light shielding film 33 in the display area 9a, the stripe colored films 13sr, 13sg, and 13sb are partitioned for each dot, and rectangular colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b are formed for each dot. Will be.

As described above, the dot light shielding film 33 partitions the stripe colored films 13sr, 13sg, and 13sb for each dot, thereby forming the stacked portion 14 in which a part of the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b and the dot light shielding film 33 overlap. ing.
Further, an overcoat film 21 is provided so as to cover the laminated portion 14 and the color filter 13, and thereby the surfaces of the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b are protected.
The common electrode 10 is made of indium tin oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as ITO), and is formed in stripes on the lower substrate 2 in the left-right direction on the paper.
The alignment film 20 is made of a resin material such as polyimide formed on the common electrode 10. On the surface side of the alignment film 20, a rubbing process or a vertical alignment process according to the mode of the liquid crystal molecules is performed. For example, when the liquid crystal molecules are in a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode or STN (Super Twisted Nematic), the alignment film 27 is subjected to a rubbing process and has liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy. In the VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, a vertical alignment process is performed. In the case where the alignment film 27 is a vertical alignment film, an inorganic film may be employed in addition to the polyimide film.

Here, the overcoat film 21 is formed by a wet film-forming method such as a spin coat method, for example, and the surface step of the lower layer is considerably flattened.
Further, since the common electrode 10 is formed into a thin film by a vacuum film forming method such as sputtering, the common electrode 10 is formed following the surface shape of the overcoat film 21.
Further, since the alignment film 20 made of an organic film is formed by a wet film forming method such as a spin coat method, the surface step of the lower layer is slightly flattened. Further, since the alignment film 20 made of an inorganic film is formed into a thin film by a vacuum film forming method, it is formed following the surface shape of the common electrode 10.

Thereby, on the surface of the alignment film 20 (interface with the liquid crystal layer 23), a concavo-convex shape in which a slight flattening is applied to the step of the stacked portion 14 is given.
That is, the convex portion 20a in which the overcoat film 21, the common electrode 10, and the alignment film 20 are stacked on the stacked portion 14, and the overcoat film 21, the common electrode 10, and the alignment film on the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b. A recess 20b in which 20 is laminated is formed.

Next, the configuration of the upper substrate portion 3A will be described in detail.
The upper substrate 3 is made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic, and transmits light from the backlight unit 15.
The segment electrode 11 is made of ITO, and is formed in a stripe shape in the upper substrate 3 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (a direction penetrating the paper surface).

The photo spacer 24 is made of a resin material such as acrylic. As a method for forming the photo spacer 24, a method similar to the method for forming the overcoat film 21 is employed. Therefore, since the photo spacer 24 can be formed by exposing the photosensitive resin material in a predetermined pattern, it can be easily and regularly formed by a simple process.
In the method for forming the photo spacer 24 described above, a negative type or a positive type is used as the photosensitive resin film. Moreover, the photo spacer 24 is provided corresponding to the convex part 20a of the display area 9a. Thereby, the alignment film 22 provided on the surface of the photo spacer 24 and the alignment film 20 of the lower substrate 2 are in contact with each other, whereby the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is defined. Furthermore, since the photo spacer 24 has elasticity, after the lower substrate portion 2A and the upper substrate portion 3A are bonded together in the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal device 1, the photo spacer 24 is deformed by being pressure-cured in the bonding direction. It is like that.

  The alignment film 22 is made of a resin material such as polyimide formed on the segment electrode 11 and the photo spacer 24. On the surface side of the alignment film 22, a rubbing process or a vertical alignment process according to the mode of the liquid crystal molecules is performed. For example, when the liquid crystal molecules are TN mode or STN, the alignment film 27 is rubbed, and when the liquid crystal molecules are VA mode having liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy, the alignment film 27 is vertical. An orientation treatment is performed. In the case where the alignment film 27 is a vertical alignment film, an inorganic film may be employed in addition to the polyimide film.

The liquid crystal layer 23 is injected between the lower substrate portion 2A and the upper substrate portion 3A so as to be in contact with the alignment films 20 and 22. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the recess 20b is defined by the sum of the film thickness difference between the recess 20b and the protrusion 20a, the height of the elastically deformed photo spacer 24, and the thickness of the alignment film 22. Has been.
Although the STN liquid crystal is used as the liquid crystal layer 23, the liquid crystal layer may be a TN mode, VA mode, or the like without being limited to the STN liquid crystal. The liquid crystal layer 23 is injected between the alignment films 20 and 22 to be aligned in the rubbing direction of the alignment films 20 and 22.

Next, the external configuration of the lower substrate portion 2A and the upper substrate portion 3A will be described.
The phase difference plate 18 and the polarizing plate 19 are provided on the outer surface side of the lower substrate portion 2A (the side different from the surface sandwiching the liquid crystal layer 23), and the phase difference plate 16 and the polarizing plate 17 are also provided on the outer surface side of the upper substrate portion 3A. It is formed so that circularly polarized light can be incident on the substrate inner surface side (liquid crystal layer 23 side). These retardation plate 18 and polarizing plate 19 constitute a circularly polarizing plate, and the retardation plate 16 and polarizing plate. 17 constitutes an elliptically polarizing plate. The polarizing plate 19 is configured to transmit only linearly polarized light having a polarization axis in a predetermined direction, and a λ / 4 retardation plate is employed as the retardation plate 18. As such a circularly polarizing plate, it is possible to use a configuration in which a polarizing plate, a λ / 2 retardation plate and a λ / 4 retardation plate are combined (broadband circularly polarizing plate), The black display can be made more achromatic. Further, it is possible to use a structure in which a polarizing plate, a λ / 2 retardation plate, a λ / 4 retardation plate, and a c plate (a retardation plate having an optical axis in the film thickness direction) are combined. Visualization can be achieved. A backlight unit 15 including a light source and a light guide plate is provided outside the polarizing plate 19 formed on the lower substrate portion 2A.

Next, the vicinity of the boundary line 8 between the display area 9a and the peripheral area 9b will be described with reference to FIGS.
4A and 4B, the segment electrode 11 and the common electrode 10 are not shown, but the segment electrode 11 and the common electrode 10 are formed in the display region 9a. To do.

  The peripheral area 9b includes a proximity area (a part of the peripheral area) 29b close to the display area 9a and a peripheral area 39b positioned at the peripheral edge of the proximity area 29b. On the lower substrate 2 corresponding to the peripheral region 9b, a peripheral light-shielding film (light-shielding film) 34 formed of the same process as the dot light-shielding film 33 and made of a light-shielding resin material such as resin black is provided. ing. Further, the overcoat film 21 and the alignment film 20 are formed on the peripheral light-shielding film 34, thereby forming a flat surface 20c. Here, when the surface of the lower substrate 2 is used as a reference, the height up to the upper surface of the flat surface 20c is uniform and is lower than the height of the surface of the convex portion 20a.

On the other hand, on the upper substrate 3 corresponding to the peripheral region 9b, a photo spacer 24 and an alignment film 22 covering the photo spacer 24 are provided.
Here, the photospacer 24 is a member that is formed at the same time as the photospacer 24 in the display area 9a is formed. The height at the time of natural release and the hardness of the material are the same as those of the photospacer 24 in the display area 9a. It has become. The photo spacer 24 is provided at a position corresponding to the peripheral light shielding film 34 of the lower substrate 2.
Then, since the alignment films 20 and 22 are in contact with each other by bonding the lower substrate portion 2A and the upper substrate portion 3A, the liquid crystal layer thickness between the lower substrate portion 2A and the upper substrate portion 3A in the peripheral region 9b is defined. Is done. Accordingly, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is defined by the sum of the height of the photo spacer 24 and the thickness of the alignment film 22.

In the present embodiment, as described as the feature point of the present invention, the density (projection density) of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b is higher than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a. . Further, the density of the photo spacers 24 in the peripheral region 39b is lower than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the adjacent region 29b.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the photo spacers 24 in the display area 9a are arranged at a pitch of the dot interval wd in the horizontal direction of the paper, whereas the photo spacers 24 in the proximity area 29b are Are arranged in the left-right direction on the paper surface at a pitch of 1/2 of the interval wd. Further, in the vertical direction of the drawing, the photo spacers 24 are arranged at an equal pitch in the display area 9a and the proximity area 29b. As a result, the number of photo spacers 24 per unit area in the proximity region 29b is larger than that in the display region 9a. Further, by varying the number in this way, the density ratio of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b to the display region 9a is 2.0. In the present embodiment, the density ratio is 2.0, but may be in the range of 1.3 to 3.5.
Further, the photo spacers 24 in the peripheral area 39b are arranged at the same pitch of the dot interval wd as in the display area 9a. Therefore, the number of photo spacers 24 per unit area in the proximity region 29b is larger than that in the peripheral region 39b.

In the liquid crystal device 1 having such a configuration, the photo spacer 24 in the display region 9a is provided corresponding to the position of the stacked portion 14, that is, disposed on the convex portion 20a. On the other hand, the photo spacer 24 in the proximity region 29 b is provided corresponding to the position of the peripheral light shielding film 34. As a result, a larger compressive stress is applied to the photo spacer 24 of the convex portion 20a than to the photo spacer 24 of the peripheral light shielding film 34 in the peripheral region 9b. It will be deformed (collapsed) rather than.
As described above, since the density of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b is higher than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a, the compressive stress of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b becomes small, and the deformation of the photo spacers 24 (Crushing) is suppressed.

  Further, in the display region 9a, the photo spacer 24 is provided on the convex portion 20a, so that the laminated portion 14 is not formed in the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 at a position corresponding to the laminated portion 14 in the display region 9a. It becomes thinner than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 at a position corresponding to the recess 20b. In addition, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 at a position corresponding to the stacked portion 14 in the display area 9a is thinner than the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 at a position corresponding to the peripheral light shielding film 34 in the peripheral area 9b. The layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the recess 20b in the display region 9a is the same as the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 in the proximity region 29b.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment will be described in comparison with a conventional liquid crystal device.
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional liquid crystal device, which is illustrated in the same positional relationship as the cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 4B, the same components as those in FIG. 4A are denoted by the same reference numerals. Here, the description of the same configuration is omitted.

In the conventional liquid crystal device, photo spacers 24 having the same pitch are formed in the peripheral region 9b and the display region 9a. That is, unlike the proximity region 29b of this embodiment, the density of the photo spacers 24 is not different from that of the display region 9a.
In such a configuration, a large compressive stress is applied to the photo spacer 24 of the convex portion 20 a, so that the photo spacer 24 of the convex portion 20 a is deformed (collapsed) more than that of the peripheral light shielding film 34. Further, the photo spacer 24 is also deformed near the boundary 8 of the peripheral region 9b. As a result, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 becomes non-uniform in the vicinity of the boundary 8, and Δnd becomes non-uniform, resulting in display unevenness.

As described above, in the liquid crystal device 1 of the present embodiment, the deformation of the photo spacer 24 in the proximity region 29b can be suppressed, so the liquid crystal layer 23 in the recess 20b in the display region 9a and the liquid crystal layer 23 in the proximity region 29b. The layer thickness can be made constant and display unevenness can be suppressed by making Δnd uniform.
Further, since the peripheral region 9b is a portion covered with the peripheral light shielding film 34, it does not contribute to display regardless of the density of the photo spacer 24. Therefore, the density of the photo spacers 24 in the peripheral region 9a can be freely adjusted.

  Further, since the density of the photo spacer 24 in the peripheral region 39b is lower than that of the adjacent region 29b, the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 in the peripheral region 39b are easily bent, and the lower substrate 2 and the upper substrate 3 Conductive particles arranged between the metal terminals can be crushed, and conduction between the metal terminals can be obtained with certainty. In the peripheral region 39b, although the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is reduced, it is a region that does not contribute to display, and thus display unevenness does not occur.

(Second Embodiment of Liquid Crystal Device)
Next, a liquid crystal device according to a second embodiment of the electro-optical device of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region of the liquid crystal device according to the present embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. ).
In the present embodiment, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

In the liquid crystal device 1 according to the present embodiment, each of the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b is thicker than the dot light-shielding film 33 in the display region 9a. An overcoat film 21 is formed on the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b, and an alignment film 20 is formed on the overcoat film 21. As described above, the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b are formed thicker than the dot light-shielding film 33, so that the step on the stacked portion 14 is flattened.
On the other hand, in the peripheral region 9 b, the overcoat film 21 is formed on the peripheral light shielding film 34, and the alignment film 20 is further formed on the overcoat film 21.

  In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the density of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b is higher than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a. Further, the density of the photo spacers 24 in the peripheral region 39b is lower than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the adjacent region 29b.

Then, by laminating the lower substrate portion 2A and the upper substrate portion 3A and injecting the liquid crystal layer 23 therebetween, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 is increased by the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a and the peripheral region 9b. It is prescribed.
Here, since the colored film films 13r, 13g, and 13b are formed in the display region 9a and the colored film is not formed in the peripheral region 9b, the film from the lower substrate 2 to the alignment film 20 in the display region 9a. The thickness is thicker than that in the peripheral region 9b.
As a result, the photospacer 24 in the display area 9a is deformed by applying a larger compressive stress than the photospacer 24 in the peripheral area 9b. On the other hand, in the proximity region 29b, the density of the photo spacers 24 is higher than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a. Is suppressed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the surface of the overcoat film 21 in the display area 9a is planarized by making the film thickness of the colored film films 13r, 13g, and 13b larger than the film thickness of the dot light shielding film 33. Accordingly, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 above the stacked portion 14 and the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 above the colored films 13r, 13g, and 13b can be made uniform. Accordingly, display with high contrast can be performed in the display area 9a.

(Third embodiment of liquid crystal device)
Next, a third embodiment of the liquid crystal device according to the electro-optical device of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region of the liquid crystal device of the present embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC ′ of FIG. ).
In the present embodiment, only the parts different from the first embodiment will be described, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
In each drawing, the thicknesses and dimensional ratios of the components are appropriately changed in order to make the drawings easy to see.

In the first embodiment described above, the number of photo spacers 24 per unit area in the proximity region 29b is reduced by making the pitch of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b smaller than the pitch of the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a. Is larger than that of the display area 9a. As a result, the density ratio of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b to the display region 9a is increased.
On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, although the pitch of the photo spacer 24 is the same in the display area 9a and the proximity area 29b, the area of the photo spacer 24 in the proximity area 29b is displayed. It is larger than that of the region 9a.
In other words, in the present embodiment, the number of photo spacers 24 per unit area in the display area 9a and the proximity area 29b is the same, but the thickness of the photo spacer 24 per line in the proximity area 29b is set to be the same. It is larger than that of the display area 9a.

  As described above, also in this embodiment, the density of the photo spacers 24 in the proximity region 29b can be made higher than the density of the photo spacers 24 in the display region 9a. Accordingly, since the deformation of the photo spacer 24 in the proximity region 29b can be suppressed, the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer 23 at the boundary 8 between the display region 9a and the proximity region 29b can be made constant, and Δnd becomes uniform. Unevenness can be suppressed.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to a reflective or transflective liquid crystal device.
In the present embodiment, the normally black mode liquid crystal device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this mode, and can be applied to a normally white mode liquid crystal device.

(Electronics)
Next, specific examples of the electronic apparatus provided with the liquid crystal device according to the embodiment of the invention will be described.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a mobile phone. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1000 denotes a mobile phone body, and reference numeral 1001 denotes a display unit using the liquid crystal device. When the liquid crystal device of the above-described embodiment is used as a display unit of such an electronic device such as a mobile phone, the electronic device includes a liquid crystal display unit in which display unevenness is suppressed.

(Experimental result 1)
Next, Example 1 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 shows the experimental results of investigating the degree of display unevenness that occurs in the vicinity of the boundary 8 between the display region 9a and the proximity region 29b in the liquid crystal device shown in the first embodiment.
In the present embodiment, the experiment is performed with different four parameters. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, (1) the number of photo spacers per dot in the peripheral area 39b (spacer density C1), (2) the number of dots in the adjacent area 29b (width W2), and (3) proximity Experiments were performed by varying the number of photo spacers per dot (spacer density C2) in the region 29b and (4) the number of photo spacers per dot (spacer density C3) in the display region 9a. .
Further, among the conditions (1) to (4), (5) the density ratio is obtained from the conditions (3) and (4).
In (6) display unevenness near the boundary, “×”, “Δ”, “◯”, and “◎” indicate the degree of display unevenness. Among them, “x” indicates a result of remarkable unevenness. “Δ” indicates a result of occurrence of display unevenness in a range acceptable as a product-level liquid crystal device. “◯” and “◎” indicate results in which display unevenness hardly occurred, and in particular “◎” indicates results in which display unevenness was not confirmed.
Further, this experiment is conducted on the liquid crystal device shown in “Conventional Example 1” and the liquid crystal devices shown in “Example 1” to “Example 14”.

And (6) When the display nonuniformity of the boundary vicinity was confirmed, the result of "x" was obtained for the prior art example 1. In addition, “Example 1”, “Example 4”, “Example 5”, “Example 6”, “Example 7”, “Example 9”, “Example 10”, “Example 11”, In “Example 13” and “Example 14”, the result of “Δ” was obtained. In addition, “Example 2”, “Example 8”, and “Example 12” obtained a result of “◯”. Further, in “Example 3”, the result of “◎” was obtained.
When the relationship between the result of such display unevenness and (5) the density ratio is examined, a result of “◯” or “◎” is obtained in the range of the density ratio of 1.67 to 2.00. Became clear. Further, it was revealed that a result of “Δ” was obtained when the density ratio was in the range of 1.33 to 1.67, or in the range of 3.00 to 4.00.

(Experimental result 2)
Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 shows an experimental result in which the degree of display unevenness occurring in the vicinity of the boundary 8 between the display area 9a and the adjacent area 29b in the liquid crystal device shown in the second embodiment described above is shown.
In this experiment, the liquid crystal devices shown in “Example 15” and “Example 16” are the objects of the experiment. In the “Example 15” and “Example 16”, the film thickness of the color filter 13 and the number of photo spacers per one dot (spacer density C2) in the proximity region 29b are different.
In this experiment, the thickness of the dot light-shielding film is constant, the number of photo spacers per dot (spacer density C1) in the peripheral region 39b is constant, and the number of dots (width W2) in the adjacent region 29b is constant.

  Then, when the display unevenness in the vicinity of the boundary was confirmed, in both “Example 15” and “Example 16”, a result (“◯”) in which display unevenness hardly occurred was obtained.

1 is a plan view of a liquid crystal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram taken along line B-B ′ of FIG. 1. The top view which shows the boundary vicinity of the display area of FIG. 1, and a peripheral area. It is a cross-sectional block diagram which follows the C-C 'line of FIG. 1, and is a comparison figure of 1st Embodiment and a prior art example. The cross-sectional block diagram which follows the C-C 'line | wire of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The cross-sectional block diagram which follows the C-C 'line | wire of the liquid crystal device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an electronic apparatus of the invention. The figure for demonstrating Example 1 of this invention. The figure for demonstrating Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal device (electro-optical device), 2A Lower substrate part (first substrate), 2 Lower substrate (first substrate), 3A Upper substrate part (second substrate), 3 Upper substrate (second substrate), 9a Display area 9b peripheral region, 13 color filter (colored film), 13r, 13g, 13b colored film, 14 laminated portion, 23 liquid crystal layer (electro-optical material), 24 photospacer (projection), 29b proximity region (one of peripheral region) Part), 33 dot light shielding film (light shielding film), 34 peripheral light shielding film (light shielding film), 39b peripheral area, 1000 mobile phone (electronic device).

Claims (7)

Comprising a clamping been liquid crystal layer by the first and second substrates facing each other, a liquid crystal device which performs display in a display area comprising a plurality of dots,
Of the first substrate and the second substrate, the protrusion provided on the inner side of one of the substrates contacts the other substrate, whereby the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer is defined,
Between the dots in the display area and the peripheral area outside the display area,
A light shielding film is provided,
The display area is provided with a laminated portion in which a part of a colored film for coloring light emitted from the dots and the light shielding film are overlapped,
The peripheral area is located in the proximity area close to the display area and the periphery of the proximity area
A peripheral region,
In the peripheral region, the first substrate and the second substrate are metal at positions facing each other.
A terminal, wherein the metal terminal of the first substrate and the metal terminal of the second substrate have conductive particles.
Is electrically connected through
The protrusion is
A position corresponding to the stacked portion in the display area;
A position corresponding to the light shielding film in the peripheral region;
Provided in
In each area of the display area and the peripheral area, the ratio of the installation area where the protrusions are provided to the predetermined area is the protrusion density ,
The protrusion density in the proximity area is set to be higher than the protrusion density in the display area.
And
The protrusion density in the peripheral area is lower than the protrusion density in the adjacent area, and
The first substrate and the second substrate bend toward the liquid crystal layer in the peripheral region, and the first substrate
The state where the conductive particles are crushed by the metal terminal of the plate and the metal terminal of the second substrate is maintained.
Is set to be
A liquid crystal device characterized by that . The number of protrusions per unit area in the proximity region is greater than the number of protrusions per unit area in the display region;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1. The area of each protrusion in the proximity region is larger than the area of each protrusion in the display region;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1.
The thickness of the colored film is larger than the thickness of the light shielding film;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device . The layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer at a position corresponding to the stacked portion of the display area is
Less than the thickness of the liquid crystal layer at a position corresponding to the light shielding film in the peripheral region;
The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device . A liquid crystal device comprising a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate, and performing display in a display region composed of a plurality of dots,
In between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of projections defining the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is disposed,
The plurality of protrusions are provided in the display area and the peripheral area,
The layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to the position where the projections of the display area are arranged is
Liquid corresponding to the position where the protrusion is arranged in the peripheral area outside the display area
Thinner than the crystal layer thickness,
The peripheral area is located in the proximity area close to the display area and the periphery of the proximity area
A peripheral region,
In the peripheral region, the first substrate and the second substrate are metal at positions facing each other.
A terminal, wherein the metal terminal of the first substrate and the metal terminal of the second substrate have conductive particles.
Is electrically connected through
In each area of the display area and the peripheral area, the ratio of the installation area where the protrusions are provided to the predetermined area is the protrusion density .
The protrusion density in the proximity area is set to be higher than the protrusion density in the display area.
And
The protrusion density in the peripheral area is lower than the protrusion density in the adjacent area, and
The first substrate and the second substrate bend toward the liquid crystal layer in the peripheral region, and the first substrate
The state in which the conductive particles are crushed by the metal terminal of the plate and the metal terminal of the second substrate is maintained.
Is set to be
A liquid crystal device characterized by that . An electronic device including a display unit,
An electronic apparatus comprising the liquid crystal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

Images