1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device. In particular, the invention relates to a liquid crystal display device for improving contrast by controlling the changes of chromaticity due to the viewing angle. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device as described above.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a liquid crystal display device, contrast and viewing angle are changed by the product (Δn·d) of refractive index anisotropy (Δn) and layer thickness (cell gap) (d) of liquid crystal. When an image is displayed in a normally black mode, the contrast in front direction is decreased. In the liquid crystal display device of full-color to give multi-color display by using a plurality of color filters represented by three colors of red, green and blue, frequencies of display light, which pass through the color filter via the liquid crystal, differ according to the colors. Thus, when the viewing angle is changed, the value of Δn·d is varied. As a result, chromaticity is changed.
The glass substrate SUB1 is also called a TFT substrate or an active matrix substrate, and it comprises a gate electrode GT constituted by a gate line GL, a gate insulator GI, a semiconductor layer AS preferably made of silicon, an n+ semiconductor layer (ohmic contact layer), a source electrode (or a drain electrode) and a drain electrode (or a source electrode) SD, a passivation layer PAS, and a pixel electrode PX. The pixel electrode PX is electrically connected to a source electrode (or a drain electrode) via a through-hole TH formed on the passivation layer PAS. The drain electrode SD (or the source electrode) is extended from a data line (drain line) DL and is formed on the n+ semiconductor layer. In this example, a capacity line CE is arranged in the lower layer of the pixel electrode across the pixel area.
Each of the arrows directed in upward direction in
T=sin2{πΔn·d/λr}
where the symbol λr represents central wavelength of the transmitting color of the sub-pixel, the symbol Δn is refractive index anisotropy of the liquid crystal, and the symbol d is layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer. The optical transmittance varies according to each pixel.
In order to control and suppress such change of chromaticity, the Patent Document 1 as given below discloses a technique, according to which the layer thickness of transparent insulating layer (top coating) to cover the pixel electrode or the color filter is varied for each of the colors or the layer thickness of the color filter is varied for each of the colors. Also, the Patent Document 2 discloses a multi-gap system, by which thickness of the glass substrate to form the pixel electrode is changed for each pixel.
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-7-175050
[Patent Document 2] JP-A-7-28071
According to the means disclosed in the Patent Document 1, by which the thickness of the top coating is varied for each color, or layer thickness of the color filter is varied for each color, it is difficult to accurately set each layer thickness, and variations are very likely to occur on the graded step between the adjacent pixels. Further, it is difficult to set an adequate value of Δn·d for each pixel. According to the means to change the thickness of the glass substrate for each pixel as disclosed in the Patent Document 2, the number of processes to fabricate the glass substrate is increased, and it is also difficult to precisely prepare various types of thin films to be coated between the adjacent pixels or the graded steps between insulator films such as pixel electrode, top coating, etc.
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device, by which it is possible to improve color reproducibility and contrast by adequately setting the value of Δn·d of each color without changing the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer. Also, it is a second object of the invention to provide a method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display device as described above.
To attain the first object of the invention as described above, the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, which comprises a first substrate where a multiple of pixels with different display colors are arranged, a second substrate disposed at a position opposite to said substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said first substrate and said second substrate, and refractive index anisotropy Δn (λ) of said liquid crystal layer at an arbitrary wavelength λ varies according to display color of said pixel.
Also, the present invention provides the liquid crystal display device described above, wherein a first substrate where a multiple of pixels with different display colors are arranged, a second substrate disposed at a position opposite to said substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between said first substrate and said second substrate, and a display unit is constituted by a plurality of pixels with display colors different from each other, and refractive index anisotropy Δn (λ) of said liquid crystal layer at an arbitrary wavelength λ varies according to display color of said pixel.
Further, the present invention provides the liquid crystal display device described above, wherein, to a first liquid crystal layer applied to a first pixel having one display color with central optical wavelength λ1 and a second liquid crystal layer applied to a second pixel having the other display color, the following relation can be satisfied:
sin2(λ·d·Δn1(λ1)/λ1)>sin2(π·d·nΔn2(λ1)/λ1)
where the symbol Δn1 (λ1) represents refractive index anisotropy at wavelength λ1 of the first liquid crystal layer, the symbol Δn2 (λ1) represents refractive index anisotropy at wavelength λ1 of the second liquid crystal layer, and the symbol d represents thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
Also, the present invention provides the liquid crystal display device as described above, wherein there are provided partition walls to partition between pixels having different display colors. Further, the present invention provides the liquid crystal display device described above, wherein a first partition wall for dividing pixels having different display colors is provided, and there is provided a second partition wall to divide one or more pixels having the same display color.
Also, to attain the second object of the invention, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, which comprises the steps of:
preparing a multiple of pixels, which comprise a plurality of pixels having colors different from each other, on a first substrate;
coating a liquid crystal having different refractive index anisotropy for each different display color on each of the corresponding pixel on said first substrate; and
placing a second substrate at a position opposite to said first substrate, and sealing said liquid crystal. In the present invention, it is preferable to use ink jet method for coating the liquid crystal as described above.
The layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer is set to a constant value, and the value of Δn to constitute each pixel is set to different values. By setting the value of Δn of each pixel to such a value that the value of sin2 (Δn·d/λ) will be 1 with respect to the central optical wavelength λ of pixel, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device, by which color reproducibility and contrast can be improved without changing the layer thickness of the liquid crystal layer. Also, it is so designed that the liquid crystal layer comprises one liquid crystal layer where a pixel having display color of the central optical wavelength λ1 is applied, and the other liquid crystal layer as applied to a pixel having the other display color, and high effects for practical applications can be accomplished by setting the value of Δn·d to satisfy the following relation:
sin2(π·d·Δn1(λ1)/λ1)>sin2(π·d·Δn2(λ1)/λ1)
where the symbol Δn1 (λ1) represents refractive index anisotropy at wavelength λ1 of the first (the one) liquid crystal layer, the symbol Δn2 (λ1) represents refractive index anisotropy at wavelength λ1 of the second (the other) of liquid crystal layer, and the symbol d represents thickness of the liquid crystal layer.
Detailed description will be given below on the best aspect of the invention referring to the attached drawings.
In the Embodiment 1, partition walls PT made of resin are disposed between the color filters (R), (G) and (B). Each partition wall PT is arranged along the data line DL and disposed on it. The inner space of each pixel divided by the partition wall PT is filled with liquid crystals, i.e. LC(R), LC(G) and LC(B) respectively, each of which has a value of Δn for each color inside the pixel. The partition wall PT also fulfills the function as a spacer to maintain a cell gap to a predetermined value.
The value of Δn for each of the colors is 0.1199 in R pixel, 0.0968 in G pixel and 0.0824 in B pixel. Film thickness d of the liquid crystal layer is 2.85 μm. Therefore, the value of Δn·d is 0.341 μm in R pixel, 0.275 μm in G pixel, and 0.234 μm in B pixel. Ideal value of sin2 (πΔn·d/λ) is 1 to central optical wavelength of the pixel of each color. Here, it is assumed that there are provided one liquid crystal layer applied to the pixel having a display color of central optical wavelength λ1 and the other liquid crystal layer applied to the pixel having the other display color, that refractive index anisotropy at the wavelength λ1 of the one liquid crystal layer is Δn1 (λ1), and that refractive index anisotropy at the wavelength λ1 of the other liquid crystal layer is Δn2 (λ1), and that the thickness of the liquid crystal layer is d. Then, there is practically no problem if the value of Δn·d is determined to satisfy the following relation:
sin2(π·d·Δn1(λ1)/λ1)>sin2(λ·d·Δn2(λ1)/λ1)
According to the present embodiment, a liquid crystal display device is provided, which can improve color reproducibility and contrast.
After the partition wall PT as shown in
The liquid crystal drops LDs are dropped to each pixel portion, and the liquid crystal is filled into the pixel portion. Now, description will be given on the quantity of the liquid crystal to be dropped. It is supposed here that the size of the pixel to be prepared on the TFT substrate is 150 μm×450 μm and cell gap (thickness of liquid crystal layer: d) is 2.85 μm, and that the number of pixels in horizontal direction is 768. In this case, if it is supposed that the size of the liquid crystal drop is 147.7 μl (pico-liter), the number of the drops is 1000 drops per column of pixels in horizontal direction, and the total dropped quantity is 147,744 μl.
The number of the liquid crystal drops LDs and the size of each drop exert influence on production yield. From the viewpoint of the production yield, it would be better that the liquid crystal drops are big. However, when the size of the liquid crystal drop is big, the discharge quantity from the IJ nozzle may be lower or it may be difficult to precisely control the discharge quantity. As a result, the yield is decreased. If the size of the liquid crystal drop is reduced and the number of drops is increased, the product with high quality can be produced.
In the Embodiment 1 as described above, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device, which can display images with high quality and can improve the contrast by controlling the changes of chromaticity due to the viewing angle.
As shown in
According to the Embodiment 2 as described above, it is possible to manufacture a liquid crystal display device, which can display a liquid crystal image with high quality and can improve contrast by controlling the changes of chromaticity due to the viewing angle.
Next, description will be given below on an example of liquid crystal dropping quantity in the Embodiment 3. Here, it is supposed that the size of one sub-pixel is 150 μm×450 μm, and the cell gap is 2.85 μm. Then, the quantity of the liquid crystal to be dropped to a region surrounded by a pair of partition walls PT-V in vertical direction and a pair of partition walls PT-H in horizontal direction to partition 20 pixels is 3847 μl. If it is supposed that the size of the liquid crystal drop is 3.85 μl, the number of liquid crystal drops to be dropped is 1000 drops.
For the purpose of flowing the liquid crystal to fill sufficient liquid crystal quantity for each pixel in an oblong region surrounded by the partition wall PT-V of liquid crystal in vertical direction, it is necessary to drop the liquid crystals in excess quantity. Then, excessive stress is applied to the partition wall PT-H in horizontal direction. According to the present embodiment, in addition to the effects given in the embodiments as described above, the partition wall PT-H in horizontal direction is disposed and the quantity of liquid crystal per each partition is decreased. As a result, the stress can be reduced. Thus, the disadvantage (poor production) caused by the deformation of the partition wall can be prevented.
In the Embodiment 4, one each of dummy pixel PX-D where liquid crystal is not injected is disposed at outer position in vertical direction (i.e. PPAa) and at outer position in horizontal direction (i.e. PPAb) of an effective display area. Specifically, the vertical partition wall PT-V and the horizontal partition wall PT-H as described above are also disposed on boundary portion between PPAa and PPAb, which is a region of the dummy pixel PX-D on the surrounding of the effective display area AR so that the dropped liquid crystal may not leak to outside of the effective display area AR.
In the present embodiment with the dummy pixel areas PPAa and PPAb, when the CF substrates are attached with each other and gap is formed by pressing the two substrates against each other, or when these are packaged in an electronic device, the load to be applied on the partition walls in the effective display area is reduced, and this makes it possible to prevent poor display, which may be caused by leaking of the liquid crystal due to the deformation or defect, etc. of the partition walls at end portions of the effective display area. The other effects are the same as described in the other embodiments.
According to the present embodiment, when the CF substrates are attached with each other and a gap is created by pressing the substrates against each other, or when it is packaged in an electronic device as a product, a load to be applied on the partition walls in the effective display area can be extensively reduced, and similarly to the Embodiment 4, it is possible to prevent poor display at end portions of the effective display area. The other effects are the same as in the other embodiments as described above. The Embodiment 5 can be combined with the Embodiment 4.
In the above embodiments, description has been given on the present invention by taking an example on a transmission type liquid crystal display device, while the invention can also be applied in a reflection type liquid crystal display device or a semi-transmission and reflection type liquid display device using aluminum, silver, or other metal with high reflectivity. Further, the present invention is not limited to TN-type device as explained in the above but also can be applied to IPS type or VA type liquid crystal display layer.
When the liquid crystal layer is in horizontal orientation, it is desirable that a resin material with vertical orientation is used as the partition wall. When the liquid crystal layer is in vertical orientation, it is desirable that a resin material with horizontal orientation property is used as the partition wall. The reason for this is that orientation disturbance of the liquid crystal can be prevented by the partition wall.
As described above, according to the present invention, the cell gap of the liquid crystal display device is set to a constant value for all pixels, and the value of Δn of the sealed liquid crystal is set to an adequate value for each of the pixels of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). For this purpose, it is arranged that the partition walls are also provided between adjacent pixels with different colors so that each of the liquid crystals can be independent in the pixel of the same color. This partition wall also fulfills the function as a spacer to maintain the cell gap.
Emission spectrum of the pixel extensively varies according to the light source used or to transmission spectrum of color filter. For the central optical wavelength, there are various definitions such as peak wavelength in case of emission spectrum with peak value, or central wavelength of half-band width in case of the spectrum with gentle slope. The decision as to which definition should be used depends on the design matter of each liquid crystal display device. The present invention can provide the effects regardless of whichever definition may be used.
In the present invention, there is no restriction on the types of light source to be used for the liquid crystal display device. For instance, by combining with a light source, which has steep emission spectrum such as LED light source, transmittance (transmissivity) of the liquid crystal layer can be increased, and the better effects can be obtained.
By the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, it is possible to improve contrast by controlling the changes of chromaticity due to the viewing angle, and it can be applied in television set, personal computer monitor or other electronic devices for household use and for industrial use and can give image of superb quality.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2007-122441 | May 2007 | JP | national |
2008-003918 | Jan 2008 | JP | national |