JP2001188234A - Liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a liquid crystal display device in which leakage light in a dark state due to a projection pattern provided on a facing surface of a substrate is reduced, and a decrease in transmittance in a bright state is suppressed. I do. SOLUTION: A liquid crystal layer having negative dielectric anisotropy is sandwiched between a first and a second substrate. First and second
The first and second electrodes defining pixels are formed on the opposite surface of the substrate. A projection pattern is formed on the opposing surface of the first electrode. Domain boundary regulation means is formed on the facing surface of the second substrate. A vertical alignment film is formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates. The compensating means is arranged along the edge of the projection pattern when viewed along the normal direction of the first substrate. The compensator reduces the birefringence effect acting on light propagating in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer due to the tilt alignment of the liquid crystal molecules near the edge of the projection pattern.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal in which liquid crystal molecules having negative dielectric anisotropy are aligned almost perpendicularly to a substrate surface (homeotropic alignment) when no voltage is applied. It relates to a display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 15A to 15C show cross sections of a conventional homeotropic liquid crystal display device in a black display state (dark state), a halftone display state, and a white display state (bright state), respectively. The figure is shown. A pair of substrates 100 and 101
Between them, a liquid crystal material including liquid crystal molecules 102 having a negative dielectric anisotropy is filled. Outside the substrates 100 and 101,
The polarizing plates are arranged so that the polarization axes are orthogonal to each other.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 15A, when no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 102 are arranged perpendicular to the substrates 100 and 101 and are in a dark state. Apply a voltage between the substrates,
When the liquid crystal molecules 102 are arranged in parallel to the substrate as shown in FIG. 15C, the polarization direction of light passing through the liquid crystal layer turns, and the liquid crystal enters a bright state.

As shown in FIG. 15B, when a voltage lower than the voltage in the white display state is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 102
It is arranged diagonally to the substrate. The light L1 traveling in a direction perpendicular to the substrate provides an intermediate color. The liquid crystal layer hardly exhibits the birefringence effect for the light L2 traveling from the lower right to the upper left in the drawing. Therefore, looking at the display screen from the upper left,
Looks black. Conversely, the liquid crystal layer exhibits a large birefringence effect for light L3 traveling from the lower left to the upper right in the figure. For this reason, when the display screen is viewed from the upper right, the color looks almost white. As described above, the ordinary homeotropic liquid crystal display device has poor viewing angle characteristics in the halftone display state.

In order to improve the viewing angle characteristics, a multi-domain type in which one pixel is divided into a plurality of domains has been proposed. In a multi-domain liquid crystal display device, the directions of inclination of liquid crystal molecules in a domain in a halftone display state are uniform and different from each other between domains. An example of the structure and operation principle of a liquid crystal display device of a multi-domain homeotropic alignment (multi-domain vertical alignment type (MVA type)) will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of an MVA liquid crystal display device. A first projection pattern 117 is formed on the opposite surface of the glass substrate 101, and a second projection pattern 118 is formed on the opposite surface of the glass substrate 136. The first projection pattern 117 and the second projection pattern 118
It extends in a direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 16 and is arranged alternately in the horizontal direction of the drawing. On the opposing surfaces of the glass substrates 101 and 136, a vertical alignment film 128 is formed so as to cover the projection patterns 117 and 118.

A liquid crystal material 129 containing liquid crystal molecules 130 is filled between the glass substrates 101 and 136. The liquid crystal molecules 130 have negative dielectric anisotropy. The dielectric constant of the projection patterns 117 and 118 is lower than the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal material 129. Glass substrate 101 and glass substrate 13
The polarizers 131 and 132 are arranged in a crossed Nicol arrangement outside of 6. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules 1
Since 30 is oriented perpendicular to the substrate surface, a good dark state is obtained.

When a voltage is applied between the substrates, a broken line 1
An equipotential surface as shown at 16 appears. Projection pattern 11
Since the dielectric constants of 7 and 118 are smaller than the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal layer, the equipotential surfaces 116 near the side surfaces of the projection patterns 117 and 118 are inclined so as to be lower in the projection patterns. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 130 a near the side surfaces of the projection patterns 117 and 118 are inclined so as to be parallel to the equipotential surface 116. The surrounding liquid crystal molecules 130 are also the liquid crystal molecules 1
Inclination in the same direction is affected by the inclination of 30a. For this reason, the liquid crystal molecules 130 between the first projection pattern 117 and the second projection pattern 118 are arranged such that the major axis (director) thereof rises to the right in the drawing. First
The liquid crystal molecules 130 on the left side of the projection pattern 117 and the liquid crystal molecules 130 on the right side of the second projection pattern 118
Are arranged such that their major axes are downward-sloping in the figure.

As described above, a plurality of domains having different inclination directions of liquid crystal molecules are defined in one pixel. First and second projection patterns 117 and 118 define the boundaries of the domain. By arranging the first and second projection patterns 117 and 118 in parallel with each other in the plane of the substrate, two types of domains can be formed. By bending these projection patterns by 90 °, a total of four types of domains are formed. By forming a plurality of domains in one pixel, viewing angle characteristics in a halftone display state can be improved.

[0010]

The projection patterns 117 and 118 of the conventional MVA type liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal molecules near the edge of the projection pattern 117 and 118
In the region where is not formed, the liquid crystal molecules are substantially vertically aligned when no voltage is applied. However, the projection patterns 117 and 1
The liquid crystal molecules near the edge of 18 are affected by the slope of the projection pattern and are inclined with respect to the substrate surface. Therefore, a birefringence effect appears for light propagating in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer.
Due to this birefringence effect, light is transmitted slightly when it should be in a dark state, leading to a decrease in contrast.

By covering the area near the slope of the projection pattern with a light shielding film, it is possible to prevent light leakage in a dark state. However, when the light-shielding film is disposed, light is shielded even in the bright state, and the transmittance is reduced.

In the conventional MVA type liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 16, the liquid crystal molecules 130 are tilted when a voltage is applied, but the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules in regions far from the projection patterns 117 and 118 is directly. Not determined. The liquid crystal molecules 130a near the projection patterns 117 and 118 are inclined, and the inclination is sequentially propagated to a region far from the projection patterns 117 and 118. In this way, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules 130 in the region far from the projection patterns 117 and 118 is indirectly determined. In the halftone display state, the propagation speed of the tilt of the liquid crystal molecules becomes slow because the electric field distortion is small. Therefore, the response from the dark state to the halftone state becomes slow.

Further, light transmission loss is likely to occur in the vicinity of the projection pattern provided in the MVA liquid crystal display device. For this reason, the transmittance tends to be lower than that of the twisted nematic liquid crystal display device. When the liquid crystal display device is used for stationary use, a decrease in transmittance does not cause a serious problem. However, in order to be mounted on a portable device, it is desired to further increase the transmittance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device in which light leakage in a dark state due to a projection pattern provided on an opposing surface of a substrate is reduced and a decrease in transmittance in a bright state is suppressed. It is to be.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the response characteristics of an MVA type liquid crystal display device.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the transmittance of an MVA type liquid crystal display device.

[0017]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a first and a second substrate, which are arranged parallel to each other at a certain interval, are provided between the first and the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling a liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy; and first and second liquid crystal layers formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a pixel. 2
And the projection pattern formed on the opposing surface of the first electrode and the projection surface formed on the opposing surface of the second substrate, and the inclination directions of the liquid crystal molecules are aligned with the first projection pattern. A domain boundary regulating means for regulating the position of a domain boundary; and an alignment film formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, wherein liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the alignment film are An alignment film having an alignment control force such that the alignment is perpendicular to a surface, and a compensation unit arranged along an edge of the projection pattern when viewed along a normal direction of the first substrate. And a compensating means for reducing a birefringence effect acting on light propagating in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer due to the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer near the edge of the projection pattern being tilt-aligned. A display device is provided.

The compensating means reduces the birefringence effect due to the oblique orientation of the liquid crystal molecules near the edge of the projection pattern. For this reason, it is possible to reduce the leakage light of this portion in the dark state.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a negative dielectric constant is provided between the first and second substrates, which are arranged parallel to each other at a certain interval, and the first and second substrates. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling a liquid crystal material having anisotropy; first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a pixel; An alignment film formed on at least one of opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates and having an alignment regulating force such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned perpendicular to a film surface; A first pattern provided on the opposing surface of the electrode and having a pattern that is long in one direction in at least a part of a local region in the substrate surface;
Wherein a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes to cause liquid crystal molecules near the edge of the first domain boundary regulating means to move away from the first electrode. A first domain boundary regulating means having an end inclined in a direction away from the first domain regulating means, and at least one of a first domain boundary regulating means provided on a facing surface of the second substrate, when viewed along a substrate normal direction. A second domain boundary regulating unit disposed so as to be parallel to or overlap with the first domain boundary regulating unit in a local partial region in a substrate surface, wherein the second domain boundary regulating unit is provided between the first and second electrodes. When voltage is applied,
There is provided a liquid crystal display device having a second domain boundary regulating means for inclining liquid crystal molecules inside the second domain boundary regulating means in a direction substantially parallel to the length direction of the second domain boundary regulating means. Is done.

The direction in which the liquid crystal molecules incline due to the first domain boundary regulating means is different from the direction in which the liquid crystal molecules incline due to the second domain boundary regulating means. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are arranged in a bend arrangement. Since the inclination direction is restricted so as to be arranged in a bend arrangement, the orientation change is completed quickly.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a negative dielectric constant is provided between the first and second substrates, which are arranged parallel to each other at a certain interval, and the first and second substrates. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling a liquid crystal material having anisotropy; and first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a pixel. ,
A first region formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates and including at least two parallel patterns long in one direction in a partial local region on the substrate surface; And a second region between the first regions is defined, and the second region has an alignment control force such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned perpendicular to a substrate surface. And a liquid crystal display device in which the first region has no vertical alignment regulating force or an alignment film having a vertical alignment regulating force weaker than the vertical alignment regulating force of the second region.

The vertical alignment control force applied to the liquid crystal molecules in contact with the second region is weak. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules in this part are
The orientation is inclined from the vertical direction. The liquid crystal molecules on the second region tilt in the length direction of the second region due to the influence of the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules on both sides of the second region.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a negative dielectric constant is provided between the first and second substrates, which are disposed parallel to each other at a certain interval, and the first and second substrates. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling a liquid crystal material having anisotropy; and first and second liquid crystal layers formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a polygonal pixel. And a pattern formed on the opposing surface of at least one of the first and second substrates and extending into the pixel from each of the vertices of the pixel and having an interconnected pattern. A first region and a second region defined by an edge of the first region and a pixel, the second region being defined by the second region;
Region has an alignment regulating force such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface, and the first region is
A liquid crystal display device having an alignment film having no vertical alignment control force or having a vertical alignment control force weaker than the vertical alignment control force of the second region is provided.

The liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the edge of the pixel are inclined such that the end farther from the pixel electrode is directed toward the inside of the pixel when a voltage is applied. A plurality of domains are formed which are influenced by the inclination of the liquid crystal molecules located near each side of the pixel. The boundary of this domain is fixed at the position of the first region.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an MVA type liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment. A plurality of gate bus lines 5 extend in the row direction (lateral direction) in the figure. A capacity bus line 8 extending in the row direction is arranged between two gate bus lines 5 adjacent to each other. The insulating film covers the gate bus line 5 and the capacitance bus line 8. On this insulating film, a plurality of drain bus lines 7 extending in the column direction (vertical direction) of the drawing are arranged.

A thin film transistor (TF) corresponding to the intersection of the gate bus line 5 and the drain bus line 7
T) 10 is provided. The drain region of the TFT 10 is connected to the corresponding drain bus line 7.
The gate bus line 5 also serves as a gate electrode of the corresponding TFT 10.

The drain bus line 7 and the TFT 10 are covered with an interlayer insulating film. A pixel electrode 1 is provided in a region surrounded by two gate bus lines 5 and two drain bus lines 7.
2 are arranged. The pixel electrode 12 has a corresponding TFT
10 source regions.

An auxiliary capacitance branch line 9 branched from the capacitance bus line 8 extends along the edge of the pixel electrode 12. The capacitance bus line 8 and the auxiliary capacitance branch line 9 form an auxiliary capacitance with the pixel electrode 12. The potential of the capacitance bus line 8 is fixed to an arbitrary potential.

When the potential of the drain bus line 7 fluctuates, the potential of the pixel electrode 12 fluctuates due to capacitive coupling caused by stray capacitance. In the configuration of FIG. 1, since the pixel electrode 12 is connected to the capacitance bus line 8 via the auxiliary capacitance,
Variation in the potential of the pixel electrode 12 can be reduced.

The TFT substrate and the counter substrate (in general, a color filter is provided on the counter substrate side, so the counter substrate may be referred to as a color filter (CF) substrate). The TFT-side protrusion pattern 17 and the CF-side protrusion pattern 18 are formed along the zigzag pattern. The TFT-side projection patterns 17 are arranged at equal intervals in the row direction, and their bending points are located on the gate bus lines 5 and the capacitance bus lines 8. CF
The side projection pattern 18 has substantially the same pattern as the TFT side projection pattern 17, and includes two TFTs adjacent to each other.
It is arranged substantially at the center of the side projection pattern 17. The width of the projection patterns 17 and 18 is about 10 μm.

Polarizers are arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal cell. This polarizing plate is arranged in a crossed Nicols state so that its polarization axis intersects each linear portion of the projection tapans 17 and 18 at 45 °.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the TFT portion taken along the dashed line A2-A2 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the pixel electrode portion taken along the dashed line A3-A3 in FIG. TF
The T substrate 35 and the counter substrate 36 are arranged in parallel with a gap therebetween. TFT substrate 35 and counter substrate 3
6 is filled with a liquid crystal material 29. Liquid crystal material 2
Nine liquid crystal molecules have negative dielectric anisotropy.

As shown in FIG. 2, a gate bus line 5 is formed on the opposite surface of the glass substrate 1. The gate bus line 5 includes an Al film having a thickness of 100 nm and a thickness of 50 nm.
After depositing a Ti film of
It is formed by patterning a layer. The etching of the Al film and the Ti film is performed by reactive ion etching using a mixed gas of BCl ₃ and Cl ₂ .

A gate insulating film 40 is formed on glass substrate 1 so as to cover gate bus line 5. The gate insulating film 40 is a SiN film having a thickness of 400 nm, and is formed by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD).

An active region 41 is arranged on the surface of gate insulating film 40 so as to straddle gate bus line 5.
The active region 41 is a non-doped amorphous Si film having a thickness of 30 nm, and is formed by PE-CVD. The channel protection film 42 covers a region of the surface of the active region 41 above the gate bus line 5. Channel protective film 42
Is a 140 nm thick SiN film. The channel protective film 42 is patterned so as to cover the channel region of the TFT 10 in FIG.

The formation of the channel protective film 42 is performed by the following method. First, the surface of the SiN film formed on the entire surface of the substrate is covered with a photoresist film. By exposing from the back surface of the glass substrate 1 using the gate bus line 5 as a photomask, an edge of the resist pattern parallel to the row direction in FIG. 1 can be defined. The edge parallel to the column direction in FIG. 1 is defined by exposure using a normal photomask.

After developing the photoresist film, the SiN film is patterned by etching using a buffered hydrofluoric acid-based etchant. The SiN film may be patterned by RIE using a fluorine-based gas. After patterning the SiN film, the resist pattern is removed. The channel protection film 42 is formed by the steps described above.

A source electrode 44 and a drain electrode 46 are formed on regions on both sides of the channel protection film 42 on the upper surface of the active region 41, respectively. The source electrode 44 and the drain electrode 46 are both an n ⁺ -type amorphous Si film having a thickness of 30 nm, a Ti film having a thickness of 20 nm, and a thickness of 75 nm.
And a Ti film having a thickness of 80 nm are stacked in this order. The gate bus line 5, the gate insulating film 40, the active region 41, the source electrode 44, and the drain electrode 46 constitute the TFT 10.

The active region 41, the source electrode 44 and the drain electrode 46 are patterned using one etching mask. Etching of these films is performed by RIE using a mixed gas of BCl ₃ and Cl ₂ . At this time, above the gate bus line 5, the channel protective film 42 functions as an etching stop layer.

The pixel electrode 12 is formed on the protective insulating film 48. The pixel electrode 12 is an indium tin oxide (ITO) film having a thickness of 70 nm, and a protective insulating film 48.
Is connected to the source electrode 44 via the inside of a contact hole 50 penetrating therethrough. The ITO film is formed by DC magnetron sputtering. The patterning of the ITO film is performed by wet etching using an oxalic acid-based etchant. Pixel electrode 12 and protective insulating film 4
8 is covered with an alignment film 28.

Next, the configuration of the counter substrate 36 will be described. A color filter 51 is provided on the opposite surface of the glass substrate 27.
Are formed. TF on the surface of the color filter 51
A light-shielding film 52 made of Cr or the like is formed on a region facing T10. A common electrode 54 made of ITO is formed on the surface of the color filter 51 so as to cover the light shielding film 52. The orientation film 28 covers the surface of the common electrode 54.

The pixel electrode portion shown in FIG. 3 will be described. A capacitance bus line 8 is formed on the surface of the glass substrate 1. The capacitance bus line 8 is formed in the same step as the formation of the gate bus line 5 shown in FIG. A gate insulating film 40 and a protective insulating film 48 are formed on the surface of the glass substrate 1 so as to cover the capacitance bus line 8. The pixel electrode 12 is formed on the surface of the protective insulating film 48.

On the surface of the pixel electrode 12, a TFT-side projection pattern 17 is formed. TFT side projection pattern 1
7 is formed by applying a polyimide-based photoresist and patterning the resist film as shown in FIG. The alignment film 28 covers the surface of the TFT-side protrusion pattern 17 and the pixel electrode 12.

Glass substrate 27 facing TFT substrate 35
A color filter 51 is formed on the facing surface of.
A light-shielding film 52 is formed on a part of the surface of the color filter 51. A common electrode 54 is formed on the surface of the color filter 51 so as to cover the light shielding film 52. The CF-side projection pattern 18 is formed on the surface of the common electrode 54. The CF-side projection pattern 18 is formed by the same method as the formation of the TFT-side projection pattern 17. The orientation film 28 covers the surfaces of the CF-side projection pattern 18 and the common electrode 54.

To display an image, a constant common voltage is applied to the common electrode 54, and an image signal whose polarity is inverted for each frame is applied to the pixel electrode 12. Common electrode 5
4, if the voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer when the pixel electrode 12 has a positive polarity is equal to the voltage applied when the pixel electrode 12 has a negative polarity, the transmittance when the pixel electrode 12 has a positive polarity and the transmittance when the pixel electrode 12 has a negative polarity Are equal, and a stable display can be obtained.

A compensating member 21 having a refractive index anisotropy is formed on the surface of the glass substrate 1 opposite to the facing surface. The compensating member 21 is arranged along the edge of the TFT-side protrusion pattern 17 or substantially overlapping the slope thereof when viewed along the normal direction of the substrate. The liquid crystal molecules near the edge of the TFT-side projection pattern 17 are inclined with respect to the substrate surface due to the influence of the slope of the projection pattern 17. This inclination exerts a birefringent effect on light propagating in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer. The compensating member 21 has a refractive index anisotropy that reduces the birefringence effect. Glass substrate 2
7 also has a projection pattern 1 on the surface opposite to the facing surface.
A similar compensating member 22 is formed corresponding to FIG.

In the dark state, the projection patterns 17 and 1
The birefringence effect of the liquid crystal layer near the edge of 8 is canceled by the birefringence effect of the compensation members 21 and 22 due to the refractive index anisotropy. Therefore, light leakage near the edges of the projection patterns 17 and 18 in the dark state can be reduced.

In order to sufficiently compensate for the birefringence effect even when viewed from an oblique direction, it is preferable to make the glass substrates 1 and 27 as thin as possible. 2 and 3, the case where a glass substrate is used has been described. However, when a thin film substrate having a thickness of about several tens of μm is used instead of the glass substrate,
The birefringence effect will also be sufficiently compensated for in oblique directions.

Next, a method for manufacturing the compensating member 22 shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. TFT substrate 35
The method of manufacturing the compensation member 21 on the side is the same as the method described below.

A 100 nm thick transparent electrode layer 60 made of ITO is formed on the surface of the glass substrate 27 opposite to the surface on which the projection patterns 18 are formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the projection pattern 18 locally includes a portion parallel to the first direction and a portion parallel to the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. First, the entire area of the surface of the transparent electrode layer 60 is rubbed in the first direction.

Next, a region of the projection pattern 18 where portions parallel to the first direction are arranged is masked with a resist pattern. Areas not covered by the resist pattern
Rub in the second direction. After that, the resist pattern is removed. That is, locally, the rubbing direction is parallel to the direction in which the projection pattern 18 extends.

1% by weight of UV-curable liquid crystal material
The ultraviolet-curable liquid crystal layer 61 having a thickness of 2.5 μm is formed by applying the photopolymerization initiator to the surface of the transparent electrode layer 60. As UV curable liquid crystal material, for example, chemical formula

[0054]

Embedded image CH ₂ ＣＨCHCOO—C ₆ H ₄ —C ₆ H ₄ —C ₃ H ₇

The monoacrylate represented by the following formula can be used. This monoacrylate shows a liquid crystal phase at room temperature. The liquid crystal material has a phase transition temperature Tni of 52 ° C., a refractive index anisotropy Δn of 0.160, and a dielectric anisotropy Δε of 0.7. The liquid crystal molecules in the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 61 are:
It is oriented so that its major axis is parallel to the rubbing direction of the transparent electrode layer 60.

On the ultraviolet curable liquid crystal layer 61, a transparent electrode plate 62 is disposed so as to be almost in contact with the surface thereof.
A peak value of 60 is provided between the transparent electrode layer 60 and the transparent electrode plate 62.
A rectangular wave voltage of V is applied. The liquid crystal molecules in the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 61 are tilted by the application of the voltage. The tilt angle depends on the applied voltage.

With the voltage applied, the photomask 63
UV light is applied to the UV cure liquid crystal layer 61 through the. On the surface of the photomask 63, the projection pattern 1
The light-shielding pattern is formed in a region other than the region corresponding to the slope 8. The intensity of the irradiated ultraviolet light is, for example, 0.8
mW / cm ² .

By the irradiation of ultraviolet rays, a polymerization reaction occurs in a portion of the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 61 corresponding to the slope of the projection pattern 18. After that, wash the substrate,
The uncured UV curable liquid crystal material is removed. Thus, the compensating member 22 shown in FIG. 3 is formed.

The compensating member 22 formed under the above conditions has a refractive index anisotropy whose slow axis is a direction parallel to the projection pattern 18. Its retardation is about 10 nm. By changing the voltage applied between the transparent electrode layer 60 and the transparent electrode plate 62, the refractive index anisotropy Δn of the compensating member 22 can be changed.

Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment, the compensating members 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment are not provided. The birefringence effect of the liquid crystal layer is compensated by the refractive index anisotropy of the projection pattern itself. Other configurations are the same as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the vicinity of the projection pattern 18 of the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment. Note that TF
The protrusion pattern on the T substrate 35 side has the same configuration as the protrusion pattern 18 shown in FIG.

The projection pattern 18 is divided into an edge 18a near the edge and an inner portion 18b between the edges 18a on both sides. The edge 18a has a refractive index anisotropy, and the inner part 18b has almost no refractive index anisotropy. Rim 1
The birefringence effect due to the refractive index anisotropy of 8a compensates for the birefringence effect caused by the tilted liquid crystal molecules 29a in the vicinity.

Referring to FIG. 6, a method of forming a projection pattern of the liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment will be described.
The surface of the common electrode 54 is rubbed in a direction parallel to the projection pattern. 1.5 μm thick on the surface of the common electrode 54
The ultraviolet curable liquid crystal layer 65 is formed. The ultraviolet-curable liquid crystal layer 65 is formed of the same material as the ultraviolet-curable liquid crystal layer 61 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

The electrode plate 66 is arranged so as to be almost in contact with the surface of the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 65. The electrode plate 66 includes a transparent electrode pattern 67 corresponding to a region to be the inner back portion 18 b of the projection pattern, and a transparent electrode pattern 67.
Are provided with other transparent electrode patterns 68 arranged on both sides.

A rectangular wave voltage e1 is applied between the common electrode 54 and the transparent electrode pattern 67, and a rectangular wave voltage e2 is applied between the common electrode 54 and the transparent electrode pattern 68. Voltage e1 is higher than voltage e2. A large electric field in the thickness direction is generated in a region to be the inner back portion 18b of the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 65. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules in this portion are aligned almost perpendicularly to the substrate surface. Since only a relatively small electric field is generated in the region to be the edge 18a, the liquid crystal molecules in this portion are inclined with respect to the substrate surface.

In this state, through the photomask 69,
A region of the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 65 where a projection pattern is to be formed is irradiated with ultraviolet light 70. By the irradiation of the ultraviolet rays, a polymerization reaction occurs in a region of the ultraviolet cure liquid crystal layer 65 where a projection pattern is to be formed. After the irradiation with the ultraviolet rays, the substrate is washed to remove the ultraviolet-curable liquid crystal material free from polymerization. Thus, the projection pattern 18 shown in FIG. 5 is formed.

The projection pattern 17 on the TFT substrate 35 side is also
It is produced in a similar manner. The TFT substrate 35 has
A pixel electrode separated for each pixel is formed. For this reason, all the TFTs are kept conductive, and a rectangular wave voltage is applied between the drain bus line and the electrode plate 66. Since the TFT is in a conductive state, a rectangular wave voltage is applied to all the pixel electrodes, and an electric field is generated in the ultraviolet curable liquid crystal layer.

Next, a liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, both the projection patterns 17 and 18 are formed of a dielectric material. However, in the third embodiment, the surface of one of the projection patterns is made of a conductive material. It is formed with. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The compensating members 21 and 22 shown in FIG. 3 may be arranged as needed.

FIG. 7A is a schematic partial sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to the third embodiment. The TFT-side projection pattern 17 is formed on the pixel electrode 12 of the TFT substrate 35. The vertical alignment film 28 on the TFT substrate 35 covers the projection pattern 17 and the pixel electrode 12. On the surface of the color filter 51 on the counter substrate 36 side, a projection pattern 18a made of a dielectric material is formed.

The common electrode 54A covers the color filter 51 and the dielectric projection pattern 18a. The dielectric projection pattern 18a and the portion 18b of the common electrode 54A that covers the dielectric projection pattern 18a constitute the CF-side projection pattern 18. The alignment film 28 on the counter substrate 36 side is
Cover 4A.

FIG. 7B is a plan view of the liquid crystal layer for indicating the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied. Pixel electrode 1
When a predetermined voltage is applied between 2 and the common electrode 54A,
The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 29 are tilted. Projection pattern 17
The liquid crystal molecules 29a in the vicinity of the inclined surface are inclined such that the end farther from the pixel electrode 12 moves away from the center of the projection pattern 17.

Since the surface of the projection pattern 18 is formed of a conductive material, the electric field is concentrated on the surface of the projection pattern 18 and an equipotential surface along the surface of the projection pattern 18 is generated. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules near the surface of the projection pattern 18 fall in a direction parallel to the surface of the projection pattern 18. The liquid crystal molecules 29b near the top of the projection pattern 18 are:
The liquid crystal molecules on both sides of the projection pattern 18 are equally affected. For this reason, the liquid crystal molecules 29 b
Inclined toward the direction in which.

The liquid crystal molecules in the region between the projection patterns 17 and 18 are tilted in the middle direction between the liquid crystal molecules 29a and 29b. That is, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in a bend arrangement in the in-plane direction of the substrate.

As shown in FIG. 16, a polarizing plate is arranged in a crossed Nicols outside the TFT substrate 35 and the counter substrate 36. The polarization axis 30 of the polarizing plate intersects the extending direction of the projection patterns 17 and 18 of FIG. 7B at 45 °.
Light propagating in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer in a region where the liquid crystal molecules are inclined in a direction parallel to the polarization axis 30 of the polarizing plate does not rotate the polarization axis. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules are at 45 ° with respect to the polarization axis.
The region inclined in the direction intersecting becomes dark, and a black line appears between the projection patterns 17 and 18.

When the response time of the liquid crystal display device of the third embodiment from the dark state to the 1/4 halftone state and back to the dark state was measured, the conventional MVA shown in FIG. 16 was measured.
25% shorter than the response time of a liquid crystal display device. This is presumably because the liquid crystal molecules bend in the plane of the substrate when a voltage is applied, so that the tilt direction is determined more quickly.

In the third embodiment, the inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules 29b shown in FIG.
Is parallel to the length direction, but it is not determined whether the figure is upward or downward. For this reason, two domains whose inclination directions are different by 180 ° may occur. If the position of the domain boundary is not fixed, the display quality will deteriorate. Another dielectric projection pattern intersecting the projection patterns 17 and 18 may be provided on the opposing surface of one substrate in order to prevent a decrease in display quality due to variations in the position of the domain boundary. Since the liquid crystal molecules on both sides of the intersecting dielectric protrusion pattern tend to fall in directions different from each other by 180 °, the domain boundary is fixed at the position of the protrusion pattern intersecting with the protrusion patterns 17 and 18.

In the third embodiment, one of the projecting patterns is a conductive projecting pattern. However, instead of the conductive projecting pattern, a dielectric constant smaller than that of the liquid crystal layer is provided on the facing surface. A dielectric film may be formed, and a depression pattern may be formed on the surface. In this case, when a voltage is applied between the substrates, an electric field having the same distribution as in the case where the conductive projection pattern is formed is generated. For this reason, the same liquid crystal molecule arrangement as in the case where the conductive projection pattern is provided can be obtained.

In the third embodiment, a projection pattern made of a dielectric material is formed on the opposing surface of the substrate in order to regulate the boundaries between domains. Instead of forming this projection pattern, a pixel electrode is formed. May be formed with a slit.
The electric field distribution near the slit when the slit is provided in the pixel electrode approximates the electric field distribution when the dielectric protrusion is provided. Therefore, even if a slit is formed in the pixel electrode, the same orientation of liquid crystal molecules as in the case where the dielectric protrusion pattern is formed can be realized.

Next, a liquid crystal display according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a schematic partial sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to the fourth embodiment. TFT
The structure of the substrate 35 is the same as that of the TFT of the third embodiment shown in FIG.
The configuration is the same as that of the substrate 35.

A common electrode 54 is formed on the surface of the color filter 51 of the counter substrate 36. Vertical alignment film 28B
Covers the surface of the common electrode 54B. In the vertical alignment film 28B, the alignment control force in the region 28a corresponding to the conductive projection pattern 18 in FIG. 7A is broken or weakened. Hereinafter, a region where the alignment control force is destroyed or weakened is referred to as a non-alignment control region. The non-alignment control region can be formed, for example, by selectively irradiating the vertical alignment film with an energy beam such as an ultraviolet ray or an infrared laser.

When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules on regions other than the non-alignment control region 28a in the alignment film 28B are aligned almost perpendicular to the substrate surface. The liquid crystal molecules in contact with the non-alignment control region 28a are slightly inclined with respect to the substrate surface because of a weak vertical alignment force. Since the liquid crystal molecules at substantially the center of the non-alignment control region 28a are affected by the liquid crystal molecules on both sides thereof, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules is considered to be parallel to the length direction of the non-alignment control region 28a.

When a voltage is applied between the substrates, the liquid crystal molecules on the non-alignment control region 28a tilt more greatly in the length direction of the non-alignment control region 28a. Therefore, the non-alignment control region 2
8a has the same effect as the conductive projection pattern 18 shown in FIG.

Next, a liquid crystal display device according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 9A is a partial sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to the fifth embodiment. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion patterns 17 on the TFT side and the conductive protrusion patterns 18 on the CF side are alternately arranged in the substrate plane. In the fifth embodiment, the TFT-side projection pattern 17 and the CF-side projection pattern 18 overlap when viewed along the substrate normal direction.

FIG. 9B is a plan view of the liquid crystal layer for showing the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied. Pixel electrode 1
When a predetermined voltage is applied between 2 and the common electrode 54A,
The liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 29 are tilted. Projection pattern 17
The liquid crystal molecules 29c in the vicinity of the inclined surface are inclined such that the end farther from the pixel electrode 12 is away from the center of the projection pattern 17. Liquid crystal molecules 29d near the top of the projection pattern 18
Are inclined in the direction in which the projection pattern 18 extends. The liquid crystal molecules in the region between the center and the edge of the projection patterns 17 and 18 are caused by the inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules 29c and the liquid crystal molecules 29d.
Falls in the middle direction from the inclination direction. That is, the liquid crystal molecules are arranged in a splay arrangement in the vicinity of the projection patterns 17 and 18.

As described above, the conductive projection pattern 18
Since the liquid crystal molecules are arranged so as to overlap with the dielectric protrusion pattern 17, the inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules at the approximate center of the top of the protrusion pattern is restricted by the direction in which the protrusion patterns 17 and 18 extend. For this reason, it is considered that the orientation change of the liquid crystal molecules at the time of applying the voltage becomes faster than in the case where the conductive projection pattern 18 is not provided.

Further, since the TFT-side protrusion pattern 17 and the CF-side protrusion pattern 18 overlap, a relatively large electric field is generated between the two protrusions. Therefore, it is considered that the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is rapidly changed, and the response characteristics are improved.

Next, referring to FIG. 10 and FIG.
The liquid crystal display device according to the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to the sixth embodiment. The non-alignment control region 28a is formed in a part of the alignment film 28C on the TFT substrate side, and the dielectric protrusion pattern 18 is formed on the surface of the common electrode 54 of the counter substrate 36. When viewed along the normal direction of the substrate, the non-alignment control region 28a and the dielectric protrusion pattern 18 overlap.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to the sixth embodiment. The configuration of the gate bus line 5, the drain bus line 7, the TFT 10, and the pixel electrode 12 is the same as the configuration of the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 11, the description of the capacitance bus line 8 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted. A cross-sectional view taken along a dashed line A10-A10 in FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG.
CF-side dielectric protrusion pattern 18 and non-alignment control region 28
“a” extends substantially in the center of the pixel electrode 12 in a direction parallel to the drain bus line 7.

When a voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 12 and the common electrode 54, the liquid crystal molecules 29 e near the inclined surface of the dielectric projection pattern 18 have an end farther from the opposing substrate 36 and the dielectric projection pattern 18 Tilt away from the center. Liquid crystal molecules 29 near the center of the non-alignment control region 28a
f is inclined in the length direction (vertical direction in FIG. 11) of the non-alignment control region 28a. Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules are splay-aligned as in the case of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, it is considered that the change in the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules at the time of applying the voltage is more rapid than in the case where the non-alignment control region 28a is not provided.

The liquid crystal molecules 29 near the edge of the pixel electrode 12
g is inclined in a direction perpendicular to the edge and toward the inside of the pixel electrode 12 due to the disturbance of the electric field. The liquid crystal molecules between the vertical edge of the pixel electrode 12 and the dielectric projection pattern 18 are inclined in a direction intermediate between the inclination directions of the liquid crystal molecules 29f and the liquid crystal molecules 29g.

In FIG. 11, the liquid crystal molecules near the upper and lower edges of the pixel electrode 12 fall toward the inside of the pixel electrode 12. Therefore, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules 29f at the center of the projection pattern 18 is defined in the vertical direction in the figure, but the directions are opposite to each other. As a result, a domain boundary occurs inside the pixel. The TFT substrate 35 of FIG.
By arranging a dielectric protrusion pattern orthogonal to the non-alignment control region 28a between the alignment film 28C and the pixel electrode 12, the domain boundary can be fixed at the position of the dielectric protrusion pattern. .

Next, a liquid crystal display according to a seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to the seventh embodiment. The configuration of the gate bus line 5, the drain bus line 7, the TFT 10, and the pixel electrode 12 is the same as the configuration of the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 11, the description of the capacitance bus line 8 shown in FIG. 1 is omitted. A non-alignment control region 28b is formed on a part of the alignment film of the TFT substrate or the counter substrate.
Are formed. It should be noted that no projection pattern defining a domain boundary is formed on any of the substrates.

The shape of the pixel electrode 12 has a notch matching the shape of the TFT 10, but can be basically approximated by a rectangle. The non-alignment control region 28b extends from each of the vertices of the rectangle toward the inside of the pixel. The non-alignment control regions 28b extending from each vertex are connected to each other inside the pixel.

The tilt directions of the liquid crystal molecules near two sides intersecting at one vertex of the pixel electrode 12 are not parallel. Therefore, a domain boundary occurs between the two sides. In the seventh embodiment, the non-alignment control region 2
Since the extension 8b extends, the non-alignment regulation region 28b becomes a domain boundary. That is, one domain is defined by one side of the pixel electrode 12 and the non-alignment control region 28b.

In the seventh embodiment, the position of the domain boundary is restricted by the non-alignment control region without using a projection pattern. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a decrease in light transmittance due to the projection pattern.

Next, a liquid crystal display according to an eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are plan views of a local portion within one pixel of the liquid crystal display device. The alignment regulating force of the vertical alignment film is destroyed or weakened 2
The non-alignment control regions 28c are arranged in parallel with each other. When no voltage is applied, as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal molecules 2 located between the two non-alignment control regions 28c
9i are oriented substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface.

The liquid crystal molecules 2 inside the non-alignment control region 28c
9h is slightly inclined from the vertical direction because the vertical alignment regulating force in this region is weak. The inclination direction corresponds to the length direction of the non-alignment control region 28c. This is presumably because the liquid crystal molecules on both sides of the non-alignment control region 28c uniformly affect the liquid crystal molecules so that the liquid crystal molecules are not biased in either direction. Therefore, if the influence from the liquid crystal molecules on both sides is weakened, the inclination direction of the liquid crystal molecules inside the non-alignment control region 28c will be random. In order to restrict the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules by the non-alignment control region 28c, it is necessary to make the width smaller than a certain upper limit. According to experiments by the inventors, when the width of the non-alignment control region 28c is 5 μm, the liquid crystal molecules inside the non-alignment control region 28c are inclined in the length direction of the non-alignment control region 28cn.

FIG. 13B shows the orientation of liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied. The liquid crystal molecules 29h inside the non-alignment control region 28c tilt more greatly in the tilt direction when no voltage is applied. The liquid crystal molecules 29i between the two non-alignment control regions 28c are affected by the tilt of the liquid crystal molecules 29h and tilt in a direction parallel to the length direction of the non-alignment control regions 28c.

As described above, by providing the non-alignment control region 28c, it is possible to restrict the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules without providing a projection pattern. Since no projection pattern is provided, a decrease in light transmittance due to the projection pattern can be prevented.

As an alignment film, JALS-68 manufactured by JSR Corporation was used.
4. Using MJ9621313R manufactured by Merck as a liquid crystal material, the width of the non-alignment control region 28c is 5 μm, and the interval is 35 μm.
A liquid crystal cell having a cell thickness of 4.25 μm was prepared. The polarizing plate is set so that its polarization axis direction is
The crossed Nicols were arranged so as to cross the length direction of c at 45 °. When the transmittance of this liquid crystal display device was measured,
A maximum transmittance of 5% or more was confirmed. Note that the intensity of the ultraviolet light applied to form the non-alignment control region 28c is:
4000 mJ / cm ² .

Next, a liquid crystal display according to a ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules in the bright state of the liquid crystal display according to the ninth embodiment. The liquid crystal display according to the ninth embodiment differs from the liquid crystal display according to the eighth embodiment in that a chiral agent is added in the liquid crystal layer. Other configurations are the same as those of the liquid crystal display device according to the eighth embodiment. As the chiral agent, CM31 manufactured by Chisso was used, and the concentration of the chiral agent with respect to the liquid crystal material was 4.8% by weight.

When the bright state of the liquid crystal display device according to the ninth embodiment was observed, light was transmitted through the central portion of the non-alignment control region 28c, and four light beams were transmitted between two adjacent non-alignment control regions 28c. It turned out that a dark line appeared. A region where the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules is parallel to the polarization axis of the polarizing plate does not exhibit birefringence, and therefore becomes a dark region even when a voltage is applied. It is considered that the four dark lines appear because the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules is twisted as one non-alignment control region 28c is displaced to the adjacent non-alignment control region 28c. At the center of the non-alignment control region 28c, it is considered that the liquid crystal molecules are inclined in the length direction of the non-alignment control region 28c. Since the number of dark lines is four, the angle of twist is 360 degrees between the non-orientation control regions 28c adjacent to each other.
° is considered.

In the ninth embodiment, a dark line appears even in a bright state, so that there is no improvement in transmittance as compared with the conventional one, but the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules is determined by the chiral agent. Therefore, it is expected that the response speed from the dark state to the halftone state is increased.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments,
The present invention is not limited to these. For example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.

[0110]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The birefringence effect of the liquid crystal layer due to the inclination of the liquid crystal molecules near the edge of the projection pattern of the MVA liquid crystal display device can be reduced, and light leakage in a dark state can be prevented. In addition, the response characteristics can be improved by providing a projection pattern or a slit so that the liquid crystal molecules bend in the in-plane direction when a voltage is applied.

By destroying or weakening the alignment regulating force in a part of the vertical alignment film, the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules when a voltage is applied can be restricted. Since the inclination direction can be restricted without disposing the projection pattern, a decrease in transmittance due to the projection pattern can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an MVA liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows T of the MVA type liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.
It is sectional drawing of FT part.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a pixel electrode portion of the MVA liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a substrate and a mask for describing a method of manufacturing the MVA liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a projection pattern of an MVA liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a substrate and a mask for describing a method of manufacturing an MVA liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view and a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view and a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a plan view for explaining an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal display device according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view for explaining an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal display device according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view for explaining the operation principle of a conventional vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional MVA liquid crystal display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 27 Glass substrate 5 Gate bus line 7 Drain bus line 8 Capacity bus line 9 Auxiliary capacity branch line 10 TFT 12 Pixel electrode 17, 18 Projection pattern 22 Compensation member 28 Alignment film 28a-28c Non-alignment regulation area 29 Liquid crystal material 29a-29i Liquid crystal molecules 30 Polarization axis 35 TFT substrate 36 Counter substrate 40 Gate insulating film 41 Active region 44 Source electrode 46 Drain electrode 48 Protective insulating film 51 Color filter 54 Common electrode 60 Transparent electrode layer 61, 65 UV curable liquid crystal layer 62 Transparent electrode plate 63 , 69 Photomask 64, 70 Ultraviolet light 66 Electrode plate 67, 68 Transparent electrode pattern

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Takahiro Sasaki, Inventor 4-1-1, Kamidadanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (72) Kimiaki Nakamura 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa No. 1 Fujitsu Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshiro Koike 4-1-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa F-term within Fujitsu Co., Ltd. (reference) 2H090 HA03 HA04 HA05 HB13X HC10 JA03 JA04 JA05 JC03 KA04 LA01 LA04 LA15 MA01 MA07 MA15

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy is provided between a first substrate and a second substrate disposed in parallel with each other at a certain interval, and between the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling; first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a pixel; A projection pattern formed on a surface of the substrate; and a domain boundary regulation formed on an opposite surface of the second substrate to regulate a position of a boundary of a domain in which the liquid crystal molecules are aligned in an inclined direction together with the first projection pattern. Means, an alignment film formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, wherein the liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the alignment film are aligned perpendicular to the film surface. An alignment film having a regulating force, along a normal direction of the first substrate. When viewed from above, the compensation means is arranged along the edge of the projection pattern, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer in the vicinity of the edge of the projection pattern is tilted orientation, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer A liquid crystal display device comprising: a compensator for reducing a birefringence effect acting on light propagating in a direction. 2. The optical member according to claim 1, wherein the compensating means is an optical member formed on a non-opposing surface of the first substrate along an edge of the projection pattern and formed of a material having a refractive index anisotropy. Item 2. The liquid crystal display device according to item 1. 3. The projection pattern has a first portion having a refractive index anisotropy near an edge thereof and a refractive index anisotropy at a central portion which does not have a refractive index anisotropy or is smaller than the first portion. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, further comprising a second portion having anisotropy, wherein the first portion also serves as the compensation unit. 4. A liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy is provided between a first substrate and a second substrate disposed in parallel with each other at a certain interval, and between the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling; first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a pixel; An alignment film formed on at least one opposing surface of the substrate and having an alignment regulating force such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned perpendicular to the film surface; and provided on the opposing surface of the first electrode. A first domain boundary regulating means having a long pattern in one direction in at least a local part of the substrate surface, wherein when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, The liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the edge of the first domain boundary regulating means are moved to the first A first domain boundary restricting means for inclining an end remote from the first domain restricting means in a direction away from the first domain restricting means; provided on an opposing surface of the second substrate, viewed along a substrate normal direction. A second domain boundary regulating unit disposed so as to be parallel to or overlap with the first domain boundary regulating unit in at least a partial region in the substrate plane, When a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules inside the second domain boundary restricting means are inclined in a direction substantially parallel to the length direction of the second domain boundary restricting means. A liquid crystal display device having a regulating means. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first domain boundary regulating means includes a protrusion pattern made of a dielectric material formed on the first electrode or a slit formed in the first electrode. A second domain boundary regulating means, a projection pattern having a conductive surface formed on the opposing surface of the second substrate, and an alignment regulation of the alignment film formed on the opposing surface of the second substrate. 5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the liquid crystal display device includes a region in which a force is destroyed or weakened, or a depression pattern on a surface of a dielectric film formed on the facing surface of the second substrate. 6. A semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising: a first portion formed on a facing surface of said first substrate and extending in a direction orthogonal to said first domain boundary restricting means in at least a partial region in the substrate surface. 3. A domain boundary regulating unit according to claim 3, wherein when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer near the edge of the third domain boundary regulating unit are converted into the first domain boundary regulating unit. 6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, further comprising third domain boundary regulating means for inclining an end remote from the electrode in a direction away from the third domain boundary regulating means. 7. A liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy is provided between a first substrate and a second substrate disposed in parallel with each other at a certain interval, and between the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling; first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a pixel; A first region formed on at least one opposing surface of the substrate and including at least two parallel patterns long in one direction in a local partial region in the substrate surface; And the second region has an alignment control force such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface, and the first region is Has no vertical alignment regulating force, or has a vertical alignment regulating force weaker than the vertical alignment regulating force of the second region. A liquid crystal display device having an alignment film. 8. The liquid crystal display according to claim 7, wherein a chiral agent is added in the liquid crystal layer. 9. A liquid crystal material having a negative dielectric anisotropy is provided between a first substrate and a second substrate disposed in parallel with each other at a certain interval, and between the first substrate and the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer formed by filling, first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, at least one of which defines a polygonal pixel; A first region formed on at least one facing surface of the second substrate and having a pattern in the pixel extending from each of the vertices of the pixel toward the pixel and having an interconnected pattern; 1 and a second region whose periphery is defined by the edge of the pixel, and the second region has an alignment control force such that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface. The first region has no vertical alignment regulating force, or the second region has A liquid crystal display device having an alignment film having a vertical alignment control force weaker than the vertical alignment control force of the region.