JP3100473B2 - LCD panel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel in which the alignment state of liquid crystal is different for each minute area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal panel has a structure in which liquid crystal is inserted between a pair of opposed transparent glass substrates. A pixel electrode and an alignment film are provided on the inner surface of one glass substrate, and a common electrode and an alignment film are provided on the inner surface of the other substrate. Recently, active matrix driving of pixel electrodes has been increasing. Further, a polarizing plate is provided outside each of these substrates.

In a liquid crystal panel, liquid crystal molecules are aligned and pretilted according to the rubbing direction of the alignment films on both substrates. In a twisted nematic liquid crystal display device in which polarizing plates are arranged orthogonally, the rubbing directions of the alignment films of both substrates are almost perpendicular to each other, and the molecules of the liquid crystal form a spiral from one substrate to the other. Twist. Then, when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, the molecules of the liquid crystal maintain the initial twist and pretilt, and the incident light travels while turning along the twist of the liquid crystal and exits from the liquid crystal panel. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal rises, the birefringence effect of the liquid crystal is weakened, the above-described light swirling effect is weakened, and the incident light is hardly transmitted through the liquid crystal panel, so that a black display can be obtained. In this way, an image having a bright and dark contrast as a whole is formed while controlling the voltage applied to the liquid crystal.

In such a liquid crystal panel, the contrast of light and dark of an image changes depending on the direction in which a viewer views the screen. This is generally recognized as a viewing angle characteristic of a liquid crystal panel. For example, when a liquid crystal panel that has undergone a certain alignment treatment is viewed obliquely from above, applying a slight voltage causes the transmittance to drop significantly, and the transmittance increases again as the voltage rises. When the panel is viewed obliquely from below, even if the voltage is increased, the transmittance does not readily decrease, and even if an attempt is made to obtain a black display, the display becomes relatively bright.

In order to solve the influence of such viewing angle characteristics, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 63-106624 proposes that two regions having different alignment directions of liquid crystal molecules are formed in one pixel. . According to these proposals, the visual characteristics as a whole can be improved by mixing the viewing angle characteristics in the obliquely upward direction and the viewing angle characteristics in the obliquely downward direction.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing such a conventional liquid crystal panel alignment process. FIG. 5 shows, for example, the area of one pixel, and one pixel is divided into two regions A and B in which alignment states of liquid crystal molecules are different. It is assumed that light enters one substrate (the substrate on the light incident side is referred to as a lower substrate), passes through the liquid crystal, and exits from the other substrate (upper substrate). as See, rubbing direction of the lower substrate is indicated by arrow R _L, rubbing direction of the upper substrate is indicated by arrow R _U.

[0007] In region A of Figure 5, the rubbing direction R _L of the alignment film of the lower substrate is left up 45 degrees, the rubbing direction R _U of the alignment film of the upper substrate is a left-side down 45 degrees. The viewing angle characteristic in the case of such an alignment treatment is equivalent to the case where the above-described liquid crystal panel is viewed obliquely from above. When a small voltage is applied, the transmittance is greatly reduced, and the transmittance is increased again as the voltage is increased. Become like This viewing angle characteristic is indicated by a double arrow. On the other hand, in the region B, the rubbing direction R _L of the alignment film of the lower substrate is downward-sloping 45 degrees, the rubbing direction R _U of the alignment film of the upper substrate is a upper right 45 °. The viewing angle characteristics in the case of such an alignment process are upside down with respect to the region A.

[0008] Such a small area A having different orientation treatments.
And the minute region B are arranged next to each other, the viewing angle characteristic obtained by adding the viewing angle characteristic having a high transmittance and the viewing angle characteristic having a low transmittance becomes a viewing angle characteristic obtained by dividing by two. The viewing angle characteristics approach the viewing angle characteristics, and the viewing angle characteristics as a whole are improved. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal panel 1 having the minute area A and the minute area B in FIG. 5, and the liquid crystal panel 1 has a liquid crystal 4 inserted between a lower substrate 2 and an upper substrate 3. The lower substrate 2 is provided with a pixel electrode 5 and an alignment film 6,
A common electrode 7 and an alignment film 8 are provided on the upper substrate 3. FIG. 6 shows that the liquid crystal molecules in the minute area A rise with a left-up slope, and the liquid crystal molecules in the minute area B rise with a right-up slope. The viewing angle characteristics as described above are generated based on the tilt direction of such liquid crystal molecules.

Small areas A and B having different alignment states of liquid crystal
In order to obtain a liquid crystal panel having the following characteristics, it is necessary to rub the alignment films 6 and 8 of each substrate separately for each of the minute regions A and B. In FIG. 6, each of the alignment films 6 and 8 has a two-layer structure including alignment material layers 9 and 11 on the lower layer side and alignment material layers 10 and 12 on the upper layer side. The upper alignment material layers 10 and 12 are patterned so as to be minute portions corresponding to the minute regions A and B, and the lower alignment material layers 9 and 11 are opened from the openings adjacent to the minute portions. It is exposed. Upper alignment material layer 1 composed of minute portions
0 and 12 are provided alternately on the upper substrate 3 side and the lower substrate 2 side. That is, in the minute region A, the upper alignment material layer 10 on the lower substrate 2 side faces the lower alignment material layer 11 on the upper substrate 3 side, and in the minute region B, the upper substrate 3 The upper alignment material layer 12 is opposed to the lower alignment material layer 9 on the lower substrate 2 side. At the time of rubbing, a mask or the like is used, and in the micro area A, the arrow _RL of the area A in FIG.
Perform rubbing in the direction shown by, rubbing in the direction indicated by the arrow R _U in the region A of FIG. 5 in alignment material layer 11 of the lower side of the upper substrate 3 side. The same applies to the minute region B.

[0010]

Further, in the case of active matrix driving, a gate bus line 13 and a drain bus line are provided on the lower substrate 2 on which the pixel electrodes 5 are provided. FIG. 6 shows only the gate bus line 13. At the boundary between the small regions A and B having different alignment states, liquid crystal molecules inclined in opposite directions come into contact with each other, so that the alignment of the liquid crystal is distorted, disclination occurs, and light leaks easily along the boundary. For this reason, the gate bus line 13 is designed so as to be located at the boundary between the minute regions A and B, and the gate bus line 13 blocks light leaked due to disclination so that a good display can be obtained. I have.

However, as shown in FIG. 6, in the conventional configuration in which the gate bus line 13 is designed to be located at the boundary between the minute regions A and B, the upper alignment material layer on the lower substrate 2 side is used. The end 10 a of the substrate 10 and the end 12 a of the alignment material layer 12 on the upper layer side of the upper substrate 3 were formed at positions overlapping the gate bus line 13. For this reason, the liquid crystal 4 is subjected to an electrolysis action, ions are generated, and the liquid crystal 4 is easily deteriorated, and the performance of the liquid crystal panel 1 may be reduced.

One of the reasons why the liquid crystal 4 is subject to the electrolysis action
Is that the upper layer side of the material different from the liquid crystal 4 is
This is in contact with the alignment material layer 11 on the layer side. That is,
Gas decomposition is a process in which two electrode strips of different materials are inserted into a solution.
This is the same reason that it occurs when it is inserted. one more
The reason is that the liquid crystal 4 receives a DC voltage. In FIG.
As shown, a gate bus is used to drive the liquid crystal 4.
Line 13 has a voltage V _GIs applied and the drain bus line is
Voltage V_DIs applied. On the other hand, the common electrode 7
Is performed. Voltage V of gate bus line 13_GIs the pixel power
Positive value that rises in a pulse for driving pole 5
Is maintained until the next drive of the pixel electrode 5 after the end of the pulse
Including negative values. The gate bus line 13
There are many, for example, 400, which are scanned sequentially. Each game
The port bus line 13 has a positive value by 1/400.
399/400, a constant negative value. Obedience
Thus, the liquid crystal 4 is connected to the gate bus line 13 and the common electrode 7
It can be said that the DC voltage is constantly received during the period. In FIG.
Upper alignment material layer opposed on gate bus line 13
Potential difference v between the alignment material layer 12 and the lower alignment material layer 10₁Is raw
In the lower substrate 2, the upper alignment material layer 12 and the lower alignment material are aligned.
Potential difference v with the material layer 10_TwoHas been shown to occur
You. In particular, if there is a leak defect in the gate insulating film, the liquid crystal layer
Then, the DC voltage applied to the alignment film increases. Also,
When two bus lines 13 are formed side by side
Is also used for the gap between the two gate bus lines 13.
It has the same potential as the bus line 13.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal panel in which the alignment state of the liquid crystal is made different for each minute region and the deterioration of the liquid crystal due to the generation of ions can be prevented.

[0014]

A liquid crystal panel according to the present invention comprises a liquid crystal 26 inserted between first and second opposed substrates 22 and 24, and a matrix provided on the first substrate. Gate bus line 40 and drain bus line 3
8, a pixel electrode 34 connected to the bus line, a counter electrode 24 provided on the second substrate, an alignment film 36 provided on the first substrate, and a pixel electrode 34 provided on the second substrate. And the alignment film 36 of the first substrate and the alignment film 32 of the second substrate respectively cover the lower alignment material layers 50 and 54 and the lower alignment material layer. Of the alignment material layers 52, 56 on the upper layer side.
6 is divided into minute portions having ends 52a and 56a in the vicinity of the gate bus line 40 and not overlapping with the gate bus line 40, and the upper portion of the alignment material layer 52 on the first substrate side is separated from the gate bus line 40. The minute portion substantially faces the lower alignment material layer 54 on the second substrate side, and the minute portion of the upper alignment material layer 56 on the second substrate side is substantially The first
To face the lower alignment material layer 50 on the substrate side of
The minute portions of the alignment material layer on the upper layer side are alternately provided on the first substrate side and the second substrate side, so that the alignment state of the liquid crystal differs in each minute region. It is a feature.

[0015]

In the above-described structure, the alignment state of the liquid crystal is different for each minute area. Then, the alignment material layers 52 and 56 on the upper side of the alignment film are
Are divided into minute portions having ends 52a and 56a at positions not overlapping with the gate bus line 40. Therefore, the end portions 52 of the upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 are formed.
Since a and 56a do not receive the voltage from the gate bus line 40, the liquid crystal 26 does not receive the electrolysis action, and the deterioration of the liquid crystal is reduced.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows a liquid crystal panel 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
0, polarizing plates (not shown) are arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal panel 20 in a vertical relationship in a normally white mode or in a parallel relationship in a normally black mode. The liquid crystal panel 20 has a liquid crystal 26 sealed between a pair of transparent glass substrates 22 and 24. The liquid crystal 26 uses a twisted nematic liquid crystal. Light from a light source (not shown) is incident on the liquid crystal panel 20 from, for example, the direction of arrow L, and a viewer looks at the liquid crystal panel 20 from a direction opposite to the incident direction. Is called a lower substrate, and the substrate 24 on the viewer side is called an upper substrate.

The color filter layer 2 is formed on the inner surface of the upper substrate 24.
8. An ITO common electrode 30 is provided, and an alignment film 32 on the common electrode 30 is provided. A pixel electrode 34 and an alignment film 36 are provided on the inner surface of the lower substrate 22. The pixel electrode 34 provided on the lower substrate 22 is connected to an active matrix circuit. As shown in FIG. 3, the active matrix circuit includes a drain bus line 38 and a gate bus line 40 extending vertically and horizontally in a matrix, and the pixel electrode 34 is connected to the drain bus line 38 and the gate via a thin film transistor (TFT) 42. Connected to bus line 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the thin film transistor 42 includes a semiconductor layer 44, a gate electrode 40a, a drain electrode 38a, and a source electrode 46. The source electrode 46 is connected to the pixel electrode 34, and the drain electrode 38a
Is connected to the drain bus line 38 and the gate electrode 40
a is connected to the gate bus line 40. A gate insulating layer 48 is provided between the gate electrode 40a and the semiconductor layer 44.

FIG. 1 shows a gate bus line 40. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. However, FIG. 2 shows a configuration in which two thin film transistors 42 are provided for each pixel electrode 34.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in order to improve the viewing angle characteristics as described above, the alignment films 32 and 36 are made of fine regions A and
An orientation treatment is performed to form B. That is, the alignment film 32 on the lower substrate 22 has a two-layer structure including the lower alignment material layer 50 and the upper alignment material layer 52, and the alignment film 36 on the upper substrate 24 also has the lower alignment material layer. It has a two-layer structure including a layer 54 and an alignment material layer 56 on the upper layer side.

The orientation material layers 52 and 56 on the upper layer are patterned so as to become minute portions corresponding to the minute regions A and B after the orientation material is applied to one surface, and the opening portions adjacent to the minute portions are formed. , Lower alignment material layers 50 and 54 are exposed. Upper alignment material layers 52, 5 composed of minute portions
4 are alternately provided on the upper substrate 22 side and the lower substrate 24 side.

That is, in the minute region A, the upper alignment material layer 52 on the lower substrate 22 faces the lower alignment material layer 54 on the upper substrate 24, and in the minute region B, The upper alignment material layer 56 on the upper substrate 24 side is the lower substrate 2
The second alignment material layer 50 is opposed to the lower alignment material layer 50. In such a configuration, as described with reference to FIG. 5, in the minute region A, the alignment material layer 52 on the upper layer side of the lower substrate 22 is disposed in the direction indicated by the arrow _RL of the region A in FIG. Rubbing is performed, and the lower alignment material layer 5 on the upper substrate 24 side is formed.
4 to perform rubbing in a direction indicated by an arrow R _U in the region A of FIG. The minute domain B, performs rubbing in the direction indicated by the arrow R _U in the region B of FIG. 5 in alignment material layer 56 of the upper side of the upper substrate 24 side, the alignment material layer 50 of the lower side of the lower substrate 22 side Rubbing is performed in the direction indicated by arrow _RL in region B in FIG.
Use a mask for rubbing, and use 2
Do rubbing of degree.

By such an alignment treatment, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal molecules in the minute area A rise with a right-up slope, and the liquid crystal molecules in the minute area B rise with a left-up slope. When the minute region A and the minute region B having different alignment treatments are arranged adjacent to each other, a viewing angle characteristic having a high transmittance and a viewing angle characteristic having a low transmittance generated based on the tilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules are added and divided by 2. Such a viewing angle characteristic is obtained, and when viewed from any direction, the viewing angle characteristic approaches the front viewing angle characteristic, and the overall viewing angle characteristic is improved.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Regions A and B having different alignment states of
It is formed so as to be divided substantially at the center line of the pixel electrode 34,
And it is divided by the gate bus line 13. In the division in the gate bus line 13, the end 52 a of the upper alignment material layer 52 on the lower substrate 22 side and the end 56 a of the upper alignment material layer 56 on the upper substrate 24 are connected to the gate bus line 40. The gate bus line 40 is located nearby and does not overlap with the gate bus line 40. More specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG.
52a of the upper alignment material layer 52 on the upper substrate side and the end 56a of the upper alignment material layer 56 on the upper substrate 24 side.
Are arranged at intervals in the plane direction of the gate bus line 40, and the interval is larger than the width of the gate bus line 40.
Are located in the range of the interval.

By doing so, the common electrode 28
Between the gate bus line 40 and both the lower substrate 22 and the upper substrate 24, there are lower alignment material layers 50 and 54. Therefore, even if a DC voltage is applied between the common electrode 28 and the gate bus line 40, no electrolysis occurs between the lower alignment material layers 50 and 54 of the same type.
The liquid crystal 26 is not ionized and deteriorated unlike the related art.

8 to 10, the end portion 52a of the upper alignment material layer 52 on the lower substrate 22 side and the end portion 56a of the upper alignment material layer 56 on the upper substrate 24 side are formed. , A specific example is shown in the vicinity of the gate bus line 40 and at a position not overlapping with the gate bus line 40. In this case, the gate bus line 40 is positioned in at least one of the alignment material layer 52 on the upper side of the alignment film 36 of the lower substrate 22 and the alignment material layer 56 on the upper side of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24. .

In FIG. 8, the orientation film 36 of the lower substrate 22 is shown.
The upper alignment material layer 52 of the upper substrate 24 and the upper alignment material layer 56 of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 are both
, And the respective ends 52 a and 56 a do not overlap with the gate bus line 40. Therefore,
In this case, between the common electrode 28 and the gate bus line 40, there are upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 on both the lower substrate 22 side and the upper substrate 24 side. Therefore, even if a DC voltage is applied between the common electrode 28 and the gate bus line 40, no electrolysis occurs between the upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 of the same type, so that the liquid crystal 26 is ionized as in the related art. , Does not deteriorate.

In FIG. 9, the orientation film 36 of the lower substrate 22 is shown.
The upper alignment material layer 52 is formed so as to cover the gate bus line 40, and the upper alignment material layer 56 of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 is formed at a position away from the gate bus line 40, and accordingly, End 52a and end 56a do not overlap with gate bus line 40. In this case, there are different upper alignment material layers 52 and lower alignment material layers 54 between the common electrode 28 and the gate bus line 40. Therefore, the common electrode 28 and the gate bus line 4
If the DC voltage is applied between the 0, the potential difference v ₁ described in FIG. 6 results. However, each end 52a and the end 56a is because it is a position that does not overlap with the gate bus line 40, or no potential difference v ₂ described in FIG. 6, or considerably reduced. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, it is possible to eliminate the effects of electrolysis caused by the potential difference v ₂ in FIG. The ends 52a and 56a and the gate bus line 40 are connected to at least the liquid crystal 2.
Preferably, they are separated by at least the thickness of the sixth layer.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 is the reverse of the embodiment of FIG. 9, in which an alignment material layer 56 on the upper layer side of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 is formed so as to cover the gate bus line 40, and the lower substrate 2
The alignment material layer 52 on the upper layer side of the second alignment film 36 is formed at a position away from the gate bus line 40, so that the respective ends 52 a and 56 a do not overlap with the gate bus line 40. In this case, the same operation as in the embodiment of FIG. 9 is performed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
4, two gate bus lines 40 are provided. In this case, the gap between the two gate bus lines 13 also has the same potential as that of the gate bus line 13, so that the width of the two gate bus lines 13 and the gap between them is one of the above-described embodiment. In the same way as the gate bus line 13 of FIG. That is, the end 52a of the upper alignment material layer 52 on the lower substrate 22 side and the end 56a of the upper alignment material layer 56 on the upper substrate 24 are formed by the two gate bus lines 13 and the gap therebetween. Should not overlap with the combined width.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are views showing another embodiment of the alignment processing for forming minute regions A and B in which the liquid crystal 26 has different alignment states. As shown in FIG. 12, the alignment film 32 on the lower substrate 22 has a two-layer structure composed of an alignment material layer 50 on the lower layer side and an alignment material layer 52 on the upper layer side. This also has a two-layer structure including an alignment material layer 54 on the lower layer side and an alignment material layer 56 on the upper layer side. The upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 are patterned in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG.

In this embodiment, the lower alignment material layers 50 and 54 are made of an inorganic alignment material such as SiO ₂ or TiO ₂ , and the upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 are made of, for example, an imidization ratio of 100. Percentage of organic alignment material such as polyimide. By changing the orientation material in this way,
When the same rubbing is performed, there is a difference in the pretilt of the liquid crystal, and the pretilt of the liquid crystal in contact with the upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 is larger than the pretilt of the liquid crystal in contact with the lower alignment material layers 50 and 54. .

Therefore, when a constant rubbing is performed on the entire surface of the alignment material layers 52 and 56 on the upper side after patterning,
In the region A, the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the alignment material layer 56 on the upper layer side of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 become pretilt α ₁ , and the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the alignment material layer 50 on the lower layer side of the alignment film 36 in the lower substrate 24. molecule is the pre-tilt α _2. Conversely, in the region B adjacent to the region A, the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the lower alignment material layer 54 of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 become pretilt α ₂ , and the upper side of the alignment film 36 of the lower substrate 22 liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the alignment material layer 52 is adapted to the pre-tilt alpha _1. Here, there is a relationship of α ₁ > α ₂ .

FIG. 13 is a diagram simply showing this alignment processing. In the minute region A, the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24
Rubbing directions indicated by the arrow R _U in the rubbing direction of the alignment film 36 of the lower substrate 22 is indicated by arrow R _L. In the minute region A, the molecules of the liquid crystal in the vicinity of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 pretilt at a large angle α ₁ , and the molecules of the liquid crystal in the vicinity of the alignment film 32 of the lower substrate 22 facing the small angle α ₂ To pretilt. In the minute region B, the molecules of the liquid crystal in the vicinity of the alignment film 36 of the lower substrate 22 pretilt at a large angle α ₁ , and the molecules of the liquid crystal in the vicinity of the alignment film 32 of the upper substrate 24 opposed to the small angle become small angles. α
Pretilt with ₂ .

Thus, in the minute areas A and B,
One of the substrates 22 (2
4) pre-tilt at an angle greater alpha ₁ in side, if you pre-tilt at a small angle alpha ₂ in the other substrate 24 (22) side, when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules in the middle portion of the liquid crystal layer of FIG. 12 It rises in the direction of large pretilt as shown by the arrow.

Therefore, in the small area A in FIG.
Is the arrow R_UUpper substrate 24 indicated by
In accordance with the alignment process of the alignment film 32. Also, small
In the region B, the rising of the liquid crystal is indicated by the arrow R._LIndicated by
According to the alignment treatment of the alignment film 36 of the lower substrate 22
Become. Therefore, the rise of the liquid crystal in the minute area A in FIG.
This is the same as that of the minute region A in FIG. Why
The rising of the liquid crystal in the minute area A in FIG. _U
It is because it followed. Similarly, the small area of FIG.
The rise of the liquid crystal in the area B is that of the minute area B in FIG.
Is the same as

However, the rubbing direction indicating the pretilt α ₂ in FIG. 13 is opposite to that in FIG. However, according to the alignment treatment of FIG. 13, it is known that the rubbing may be performed only once for one substrate, so that the alignment state is more stable than the case where the rubbing is performed twice.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Alignment films 36, 32 on lower substrate 22 side and upper substrate 24 side
Has a two-layer structure composed of lower alignment material layers 50 and 54 and upper alignment material layers 52 and 56, respectively. The upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 are patterned,
The minute regions A and B having different alignment states are formed. In this embodiment, the conductive layer 60 is provided from near the ends of the upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 to the lower alignment material layers 50 and 54. The conductive layer 60 is a thin film of aluminum (about 1000).
A) was patterned. As a result, there is no potential difference at least from near the ends of the upper alignment material layers 52, 56 to the lower alignment material layers 50, 54 in the same substrate, and the deterioration of the liquid crystal 26 due to the electrolysis can be reduced. it can. In the portion where the gate bus line 40 is present, the same conductive layer 60 is opposed to the upper and lower substrates 22 and 24 and grounded.
Further, an insulating layer can be used instead of the conductive layer 60.
In this case, although the potential difference does not disappear, large deterioration of the liquid crystal does not occur because the liquid crystal 26 contacts the same insulating layer.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Alignment films 36, 32 on lower substrate 22 side and upper substrate 24 side
Has a two-layer structure composed of lower alignment material layers 50 and 54 and upper alignment material layers 52 and 56, respectively. The upper alignment material layers 52 and 56 are patterned,
The minute regions A and B having different alignment states are formed. In this embodiment, a conductive layer 62 is provided so as to cover the gate bus line 40, and the conductive layer 62 is short-circuited with the common electrode 30. The conductive layer 62 is a thin film of aluminum (about 1000 A)
Was formed into a pattern. This eliminates the potential difference in the regions where the types of the alignment films are different, and can prevent the deterioration of the liquid crystal.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The alignment state of the liquid crystal is made different for each minute region, and the deterioration of the liquid crystal due to the generation of ions can be prevented, whereby a highly reliable liquid crystal panel can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an active matrix.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a thin film transistor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing minute regions having different alignment states of liquid crystal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a driving voltage of a liquid crystal.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view showing an alignment state of the liquid crystal in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22, 24 ... substrate 26 ... liquid crystal 30 ... common electrode 32, 36 ... alignment film 34 ... pixel electrode 40 ... gate bus line 50, 54 ... lower alignment material layer 52, 56 ... upper alignment material layer

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-266512 (JP, A) JP-A-1-277819 (JP, A) JP-A-2-110431 (JP, A) JP-A-3-266 212618 (JP, A) JP-A-4-166816 (JP, A) JP-A-5-281545 (JP, A) JP-A-6-95120 (JP, A) JP-A-6-95121 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02F 1/1337 G02F 1/1362 G02F 1/13 101

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A first and a second opposed substrate (22, 2);
4), a gate bus line (40) and a drain bus line (38) provided in a matrix on the first substrate, and a pixel electrode (26) connected to the bus line. 34), an electrode (30) provided on the second substrate, an alignment film (36) provided on the first substrate, and an alignment film (36) provided on the second substrate (24). 32), wherein the alignment film (36) of the first substrate and the alignment film (32) of the second substrate are respectively a lower alignment material layer (50, 54) and a lower alignment material layer And an upper alignment material layer (52, 56) that covers the gate bus line (40) in the vicinity of the gate bus line (40), where the upper alignment material layer (52, 56) does not overlap the gate bus line (40). Is divided into minute portions having ends (52a, 56a),
The minute portions of the upper alignment material layer (52) on the first substrate side substantially face the lower alignment material layer (54) on the second substrate side and the second alignment material layer (52). The fine portion of the upper alignment material layer (56) on the substrate side of the upper substrate side is substantially opposed to the lower alignment material layer (50) on the first substrate side. The liquid crystal, wherein the minute portions of the alignment material layer are provided alternately on the first substrate side and the second substrate side, so that the alignment state of the liquid crystal is different for each minute region. panel. 2. An end portion (52a) of the minute portion of the alignment material layer (52) on the upper layer side of the alignment film (36) of the first substrate.
And an end (56a) of the minute portion of the alignment material layer (56) on the upper layer side of the alignment film (32) of the second substrate is spaced apart in a plane direction of the first substrate. 2. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the gap is larger than the width of the gate bus line, and the gate bus line is positioned in the range of the gap. 3. 3. The minute portion of the alignment material layer (52) on the upper layer side of the alignment film (36) of the first substrate and the alignment film (32) of the second substrate. The liquid crystal panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal panel is positioned in at least one region of the minute portion of the alignment material layer on the upper layer side. 4. The first and second opposed substrates (22, 2).
4), a gate bus line (40) and a drain bus line (38) provided in a matrix on the first substrate, and a pixel electrode (26) connected to the bus line. 34), a counter electrode (30) provided on the second substrate, an alignment film (36) provided on the first substrate, and an alignment film (3) provided on the second substrate.
2) wherein the alignment film (36) of the first substrate and the alignment film (32) of the second substrate are respectively a lower alignment material layer (50, 54) and a lower alignment material layer An orientation material layer (52, 56) on the upper layer covering the first substrate, and a conductive film or an insulating film (60, 62) provided on the first substrate so as to overlap the gate bus line (40). The upper alignment material (52, 56) is divided into minute portions having an end near the gate bus line (40), and the fine alignment material layer on the first substrate side has a smaller size. The portion substantially faces the lower alignment material layer on the second substrate side, and the minute portion of the upper alignment material layer on the second substrate side substantially corresponds to the first alignment material layer.
The minute portions of the upper alignment material layer are provided alternately on the first substrate side and the second substrate side so as to face the lower alignment material layer on the substrate side of Therefore, the liquid crystal panel is characterized in that the alignment state of the liquid crystal is different for each minute area.