Color liquid crystal display device and method for driving same.

0001The present invention relates to a color liquid crystal display (LCD) device adapted for high density display in colors, and also to a method for driving such a display device.

0002It is noticeable of late that the industrial attention is concentrated on color LCD devices of a constitution having light shielding layers and color filters on the inner surface thereof.

0003One example of the above is known as an active matrix LCD device where an active matrix element such as TFT (Thin Film Transistor)or MIM (Metal Insulator-Metal) used practically in a liquid crystal television receiver and so forth is provided for each of pixels.

0004In such active matrix LCD device, each pixel is driven in a static or similar mode, so that the requirement for gap control of the liquid crystal layer is not exactly strict.

0005However, it is difficult to realize a great dimensional increase of such active matrix LCD device suited generally for use in a small-sized portable television receiver or the like. Accordingly, there have been some difficulties in attaining adequate application to any large-sized personal compouter, word processor and so forth where high-density display characteristics are requisite.

0006Meanwhile, there may exist some cases of employing, instead of the active matrix device used customarily heretofore, a twisted nematic (TN) type dot matrix LCD device which is driven in a dynamic mode.

0007Since the TN type dot matrix LCD device is so constituted that an active matrix element is not privided for each of the pixels, it becomes possible to manufacture a large-sized high density display device with facility, whereas a problem arises with regard to deterioration of the display quality.

0008For example, in a display device with a capacity of 640 x 400 dots employed generally in a personal compouter or the like, the driving duty factor reaches 1/200 or so to eventually bring about some disadvantages that the viewing angle is extremely narrow and the contrast is rendered very low. Consequently, there are achievable Merely eight colors at most with R-G-B in color display, and it has been substantially impossible in practical use to realize display with gray scales.

0009Recently a super-twisted nematic (STN) type LCD device has been developed as means for realizing high density dot matrix display by the technique of increasing the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules between the two electrodes to induce a steep voltage-transmission curve.

0010According to this technique, however, the value of Δn.d, which is product of the birefringence Δn of the liquid crystal and the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer in the LCD device, is substantially in a range of 0.8 to 1.2 microns, and a high contrast is obtainable merely in the combination of specific hues alone such as yellowish green and dark blue, bluish purple and light yellow, and so forth.

0011Since such LCD device is not suited for monochromatic or black-and-white display as mentioned, there exists a disadvantage that multi-color or full-color display is impossible in combination with a micro color filter.

0012Meanwhile, there is proposed an improved technique as disclosed in EP 246842, wherein an inverse-twisted liquid crystal cell or a retardation film are laminated to constitute a retardation compensator on such super-­twisted liquid crystal cell for dot display, and the elliptical polarization caused in the dot-display liquid crystal cell is compensated by the inverse-twisted liquid crystal cell to eliminate undesired coloring peculiar to the STN type LCD device, thereby achieving a display similar to the monochromatic one.

0013Due to employment of such retardation compensator, there is obtainable a desired display substantially equal to monochromatic one, hence raising a possibility of color display by the use of a color filter in combination with such display device.

0014In particular, by combining the above color filter with a light shielding layer and disposing them in a cell, it becomes possible to realize a color LCD device apparently having a high contrast without any positional deviation.

0015However, in the STN type LCD device which utilizes birefringence with the liquid crystal cell having such a twist angle, even a slight variation in the thickness of the liquid crytal layer is visually represented as color due to the birefringence so that, unless the thickness of the liquid crystal layer corresponding to an inter-­substrate gap is retained to be remarkably uniform, there occurs nonuniformity of the background color to consequently blur the display with conspicuous deterioration of the display quality.

0016Therefore, it has been required to develop an improved color LCD device which is capable of ensuring high display quality while maintaining sufficient uniformity with facility despite any large area of the inter-substrate gap.

0017The present invention has been accomplished in an attempt to solve the problems observed in the aforementioned prior art. And its object resides in providing an improved color LCD device with light shielding layers and color filters formed on the inner surface of a cell, wherein similar light shielding layers and color filters are arranged also in the periphery of a display region where groups of electrodes are opposed to each other to perform visual representation.

0018Accordingly to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color LCD device employing thin-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters. Particularly in the display region to perform visual representation with electrode groups opposed to each other, color filters are disposed in pixel portions while light shielding layers are disposed between the pixels. Furthermore, in the outer periphery of the display region, light shielding layers similar to those disposed between the pixels of the display region are disposed on the entire surface of the peripheral region, and also there are disposed color filters which are structurally similar to those in the pixel portions of the display region and have an area corresponding to 50 to 100% of the filter area in the pixel portions.

0019According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color LCD device employing thick-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters. In a display region to perform visual representation with electrode groups opposed to each other, color filters are disposed in pixel portions while light shielding layers are disposed between the pixels. And the outer periphery of the display region is furnished with light shielding layers and color filters equal in pattern to those in the display region.

0020According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color LCD device employing thick-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters. In a display region to perform visual representation with electrode groups opposed to each other, color filters are disposed in the pixel portions while light shielding layers are disposed between the pixels. And the outer periphery of the display region is entirely furnished with light shielding layers similar to those between the pixels in the display region, and also with color filters which are similar to those in the display region and have an area corresponding to 5 to 50% of the filter area in the display region.

0021In the LCD device of the present invention where color filters and light shielding layers are arranged on the inner surface of its substrate, the constitution of the color filters and the light shielding layers in the periphery of the display region can be changed by the thickness of the color filters and the light shielding layers disposed in the display region, hence maintaining further higher uniformity with respect to the thickness of the whole liquid crystal layer in the cell.

0022The LCD device of the present invention is so constituted that fundamentally a nematic, smectic or similar liquid crystal material is contained in the gap between a pair of substrates aligned and furnished with groups of electrodes, and color filters and light shielding layers are arranged on the inner surface of its cell.

0023More specifically, it is a dot matrix LCD device comprising striped row electrode groups disposed on one substrate and striped column electrode groups disposed on another substrate orthogonally and opposite thereto, and a liquid crystal material is contained and sealed between the substrates.

0024Although the present invention may be applied to an ordinary TN type LCD device, greater effects are attainable by the application to an STN type LCD device where high uniformity is required with regard to the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, particularly to a monochromatic STN type LCD device which employs a retardation compensator to achieve black-and-white display without the provision of any color filter.

0025In this monochromatic STN type LCD device, there may be used a combination of an ordinary STN type LC cell where a layer of liquid crystal molecules having a twist angle of 160 to 300° is contained between electrodes­ furnished substrates, with a retardation compensating LC cell where a layer of liquid crystal molecules having an inverse twist angle of a value substantially equal to the above or having an angular deviation of 60 to 120° therefrom is contained between substrates, or with a birefringence compensator which is composed of a plate capable of performing birefringence compensation similarly to such retardation compensator. A pair of polarizing plates are disposed outside of the display LC cell and the birefringence compensator. In this case, the twist angle, aligning direction, direction of polarizing axis and so forth may be adjusted properly in such a manner as to render the display similar to monochromatic one.

0026In the monochromatic STN type LCD device equipped with such a birefringence compensator, the elliptical polarized light having passed through the display LC cell is compensated with regard to the retardation, so that the display can be rendered substantially monochromatic without any color filter.

0027In the present invention, both the color filters and the light shielding layers are disposed on the inner surface of the display LC cell.

0028The color filter may be composed of a film having a thickness of one to several microns and formed by the known method of dyeing, color ink printing, photoeching with optosetting color ink, electrodeposition or the like.

0029Meanwhile, the light shielding layer may be composed or either a thick film having a thickness of 0.8 to several microns and formed by the known method of black dyeing, black ink printing, photoetching with optosetting black ink, electrodeposition or the like; or a thin metallic film having a thickness less than 0.5 micron and formed by nickel plating, chromium deposition or the like.

0030Such color filter and light shielding layer may be interposed between the substrate and the electrode, or between the electrode and the aligning film; or one may be disposed below the electrode while another above the electrode.

0031In the present invention, such light shielding layers and color filters are arranged in the display region where electrode groups are mutually opposed to perform visual representation; and furthermore, similar light shielding layers and color filters are arranged in the peripheral region which is outside of the display region and inside of the seal.

0032In the present invention, pixels are formed with electrodes opposed to each other. More specifically, in the aforementioned dot matrix type LCD device, groups of striped row electrodes and groups of striped column electrodes orthogonal thereto are superposed on each other to form pixels.

0033In the color LCD device of the present invention where the pixel portions in the display region are completely covered with the color filters, the pattern of the color filters is so determined as to become greater than the pattern of the openings in the light shielding layers so that the periphery of each color filter overlaps the light shielding layer between the pixels. Consequently, in the display region, there are formed overlaps where the light shielding layers are superposed partially on the color filters.

0034In case such thick-film light shielding layers are used, due to the overlap between the light shielding layer and the color filter, the thickness tends to become nonuniform despite the provision of a leveling layer thereon. For the purpose of the reducing such nonuniformity, it is desired that the thickness of the light shielding layer be made smaller than that of the color filter.

0035Meanwhile, if the light shielding layers alone are formed in the peripheral region, the layer thickness in the peripheral region comes to be smaller than that in the display region, so that it is difficult to retain the inter-substrate gap uniform on the entire surface of the cell. However, in the constitution of the present invention where the layer thickness in the peripheral region can be substantially equalized to that in the display region, the inter-substrate gap is controllable to be uniform with facility on the entire surface of the cell.

0036The layer thickness can be rendered further uniform by providing electrodes in the peripheral region as well as in the display region, hence enabling control of the inter-substrate gap with accuracy. Since the electrodes are so formed as to have a low resistance, it is preferred that the above constitution be adopted particularly when the thickness thereof ranges from 100 to 400 nm.

0037In case the light shielding layers are not formed on the entire surface of the peripheral region, it is desired that a voltage be applied to the peripheral electrodes in a manner to keep the peripheral pixels in a light-shielded state, because the inter-substrate gap control is prone to be inaccurate as the peripheral region is sbjected to some harmful influence from the outside, and therefore the nonuniformity of the background color needs to be less conspicuous by maintaining the peripheral pixels in a light shielded state.

0038Although the present invention is adapted to be applied to a color LC optical device with color filters and light shielding layers formed between substrates and electrodes, it is also applicable to a device of a different constitution where color filters and light shielding layers are formed on electrodes.

0039The reason is based on the fact that the provision of color filters and light shielding layers under the electrodes brings about a better result, since the display quality is deteriorated if thick color filters and light shielding layers are existent on the electrodes.

0040In drawings: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the patterns of light shielding layers and color filters in the vicinity of the boundary between a display region and a peripheral region in an exemplary constitution where thin-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters are arranged on the inner surface of a cell;</li><li>Figures 2 and 3 are plan views each illustrating the patterns of light shielding layers and color filters in the vicinity of the boundary between a periperal region and a display region in an exemplary constitution where thick-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters are arranged on the inner surface of a cell; and</li><li>Figure 4 is a sectional view of a substrate with light shielding layers and color filters arranged thereon.</li></ul>

0041Hereinafter the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

0042Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the patterns of light shielding layers and color filters in the vicinity of the boundary between a display region and a peripheral region in an exemplary constitution of the present invention applied to a color LCD device where thin-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters are arranged on the inner surface of its cell.

0043This is an enlarged view showing merely a left upper corner part of the whole color LCD device to make the invention better understood. In the actual color LCD device, a similar constitution is adopted also in each of its right upper corner part, left lower corner part and right lower corner prat, and a peripheral region is formed around the display region. Such partial illustration is taken in each of other examples as well, with the left upper corner part alone shown in an anlarged view.

0044In Figure 1, wthere are included a display region 1 where electrode groups are opposed to each other to perform visual representation, color filters 3 disposed in pixel portions 2, and light shielding layers 4 disposed between the pixels. Meanwhile, in a peripheral region 5 outside of the display region 1, light shielding layers 6 similar to those between the pixels in the display region 1 are disposed on the entire surface, and there are also disposed color filters 7 which are similar to the color filters 3 in the pixel portions of the display region 1 and have an area corresponding to 50 to 100% of the area of the color filters 3.

0045In such color LCD device, as shown in its sectional view of Figure 4, the pattern of the color filters 3 is greater than the pattern of openings in the light shielding layers 4 so that the pixel portions 2 in the display region of the substrate 8 are sufficiently covered with the color filters 3, whereby the peripheries of the color filters 4 overlap the light shielding layers between the pixels. Therefore, in the display region, some partial overlaps are formed with regard to the color filters 3 and the light shielding layers 4. There are also shown a substrate 8, a leveling layer 9 formed on both the color filters 3 and the light shielding layers 4, and electrodes 10 formed on the leveling layer 9.

0046According to the present invention, there are arranged, on the entire surface of the peripheral region 5 outside of the display region 1, light shielding layers 6 similar to those between the pixels in the display region 1, and also color filters 7 which are similar to those in the pixel portions of the display region and have an area corresponding to 50 to 100% of the area of the color filters 3.

0047Thus, in the periperal region 5 also, the light shielding layers 6 partially overlap the color filters 7 as in the display region 1 to consequently facilitate control of the gap uniformity when a cell is constituted with spacers disposed on its inner surface.

0048In such color LCD device where thin-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters are arranged on the inner surface of the cell, the light shielding layers are thinner than the color filters, so that the area of the color filters 7 in the peripheral region is equalized to 50 to 100% of the area of the color filters 3 in the pixel portions.

0049Particularly when the thickness of the light shielding layer is less than about 1/5 of that of the color filter, the area of the color filters 7 in the peripheral region may be the same as that of the color filters 3 in the pixel portions, whereby the mask, printing plate or the like used for forming the color filters in the display region can be utilized also for those in the peripheral region, so that only one kind of such mask or the like is needed to consequently enhance the productivity.

0050Although there are illustrated merely a small number of pixels in the display region, a necessary number of pixels may be provided in accordance with individual requirements, as 1920 x 400 dots or 1920 x 480 dots, for example.

0051In the peripheral region also, there are illustrated merely one pixel on the upper side and three pixels on the left side (or one set of three colors). However, the number of pixels in the peripheral region may be determined adequately in conformity with the width of the peripheral region. Practically, since the peripheral region has a width of several to twenty-and-odd millimeters or so, the number of pixels may be in a range of several to several tens.

0052It is preferred that electrodes be provided in the portions corresponding to pixels in the peripheral region similarly to those in the display region, whereby the thickness difference between the display region and the peripheral region is further reduced to obtain a better result.

0053The contrivances mentioned above conform to the following embodiments as well.

0054Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the patterns of light shielding layers and color filters in the vicinity of the boundary between a display region and a peripheral region in another example of applying the present invention to a color LCD device where thick-film light shielding layers and thick film color filters are arranged on the inner surface of its cell.

0055In a display region 11 where electrode groups are opposed to each other to perform visual representation, color filters 13 are disposed in pixel portions 12, and also light shielding layers 14 are disposed between the pixels. Furthermore, light shielding layers 16 and color filters 17 equal in pattern respectively to those in the display region 11 are provided in a peripheral region 15 outside of the display region 11.

0056In this constitution also, similarly to the embodiment of Figure 1, the pattern of the color filters 13 is greater than the pattern of openings in the light shielding layers 14 so that the pixel portions 12 in the display region are sufficiently covered with color filters 13, whereby the peripheries of the color filters 13 overlap the light shielding layers between the pixels. Consequently, in the display region, some partial overlaps are formed with regard to the color filters 13 and the light shielding layers 14.

0057According to the present invention, there are formed, in the peripheral region 15 outside of the display region, light shielding layers 16 and color filters 17 which are similar in pattern respectively to the light shielding layers 14 and the color filters 13 in the pixel portions of the display region.

0058As a result, the peripheral region is also furnished with the color filters 17 and the light shielding layers 16 in the same manner as in the display region, so that if both the light shielding layers and the color filters are composed of thick films and are partially overlapped, the display region and the peripheral region come to have the same constitution, thereby facilitating control of the gap uniformity when a cell is produced with spacers disposed on its inner surface.

0059In this case also, the patterns of the color filters 17 and the light shielding layers 16 in the peripheral region may be the same as those of the color filters 13 in the pixel portions and the light shielding layers 14, whereby the mask, printing plate or the like used for forming the color filters can be utilized for both the display region and the peripheral region, so that only one kind of such mask or the like is needed to consequently enhance the productivity.

0060In this example, it is desired that electrodes be provided also in the peripheral region, and a voltage be applied thereto in such manner as to maintain the peripheral pixels in a light-shielded state. Since the peripheral region is harmfully affected from its outside such as the sealed portion and so forth, the inter­substrate gap control is prone to become inaccurate. However, the nonuniformity of the background color can be rendered less conspicuous by maintaining the peripheral pixels in a light-shielded state as mentioned above.

0061In this case, the requirement is satisfied if the electrodes in the peripheral region are driven simultaneously while the electrodes in the display region are normally so disposed as to be drivable for individual pixels. Therefore, the pattern of the peripheral electrodes may be the same as that in the display region or may be wider than that as well. More specifically, in the embodimenr of Figure 2, three electrodes serving originally for R-G-B three colors may be shaped into a single electrode of a triple width substantially. In the embodiment of Figure 2, each segment of the vertical peripheral region consists of one pixel, while each segment of the horizontal peripheral region consists of three pixels. However, in one ordinary color LCD device, the number of such pixels is mostly in a range of 10 to 100, and they may be formed by one or more electrodes.

0062The electrodes in the peripheral region are connected to a driving circuit, and a voltage is applied thereto in such a manner that the pixels in the peripheral region are driven to be kept in a light-shielded state. When the LCD device has a positive type constitution, a miltiplex-driving selective voltage may be applied to the pixels in the peripheral region. Meanwhile, in case the LCD device is a negative type, a multiplex-driving non­selective voltage may be applied to the pixel portions in the peripheral region. Since application of such selective voltage or non-selective voltage can be effected with facility from an ordinary miltiplex driving circuit, there exists no necessity of providing any additional circuit, so that an advantage is attained in manufacture of a module. It is also possible to apply a higher voltage to the pixels in the peripheral region by incorporating another circuit individually.

0063Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating the patterns of light shielding layers and color filters in the vicinity of the boundary between a display region and a peripheral region in a further example of applying the present invention to a color LCD device where thick-film light shielding layers and thick-film color filters are arranged on the inner surface of its cell.

0064In a display region 21 where electrode groups are opposed to each other to perform visual representatoin, color filters 23 are disposed in pixel portions 22, and also light shielding layers 24 are disposed between pixels. Meanwhile in a peripheral region 25 outside of the display region, there are disposed light shielding layers 26 similar to those between the pixels in the display region, and also color filters 27 which are similar to those in the pixel portions of the display region and have an area corresponding to 5 to 50% of the area of the color filters 23 in the display region.

0065In this constitution also, similarly to the embodiment of Figure 1, the pattern of the color filters 23 is greater than the pattern of openings in the light shielding layers 24 so that the pixel portions 22 in the display region are sufficiently covered with the color filters 23, whereby the peripheries of the color filters 21 overlap the light shielding layers between the pixels. Consequently, in the display region, some overlaps are formed with regard to the color filters 23 and the light shielding layers 24.

0066According to the present invention, there are formed, on the entire surface of the peripheral region 25 outside of the display region, light shielding layers 26 similar to those between the pixels in the display region, and also color filters 27 which are similar to those in the pixel portions of the display region and have an area corresponding to 5 to 50% of the area of the aforementoined color filters 23 in the display region.

0067In this embodiment where both the color filters and the light shielding layers are composed of thick films, if the color filters 27 and the light shielding layers 26 in the peripheral region are so formed as to mutually overlap, as in the embodiment of Figure 1, with the patterns similar to those in the display region, then the resultant film thickness becomes considerably great to eventually bring about difficulty in maintaining the desired uniformity of the inter-substrate gap in the entire display region.

0068In view of such circumstances, as mentioned above, the area of the color filters 27 overlapped with the light shielding layers in the peripheral region is reduced to 5 to 50% of the area of the color filters 23 in the pixel portions of the display region, whereby the above disadvantage is diminished and therefore control of the gap uniformity can be facilitated when a cell is produced with spacers disposed on the inner surface of the cell.

0069Thus, the color filters in the peripheral region may be so arranged as to have the same pattern in a condition where the pixels are arrayed similarly in the peripheral region as well. As described above, when the pattern of the color filters in the peripheral region is the same as that of the color filters in the display region, the mask, printing plate or the like used for the color filters in the display region can be utilized also for those in the peripheral region, hence ensuring enhanced productivity.

0070When the color filter area in the peripheral region is changed to be different from the color filter area in the display region, the pixels in the peripheral region may be arrayed with the same pitch as that of the pixels in the display region on condition that the pixel arrangement in the peripheral region is the same as in the display region. Meanwhile, in the embodiment of Figure 3 where the color filter area in the periperal region is smaller, the color filters may be formed with a pitch wider than that of the pixels in the display region.

0071The present invention is adapted to be applied to an STN type LCD device or SSF (surface-stabilized ferro­electric) LCD device where extremely strict control of the inter-substrate gap uniformity is requisite and monochromatic display can be effected without using any color filter.

0072In the present invention, the substrates constituting a liquid crystal cell may be optically isotropic ones and are composed usually of transparent glass, plastic or like material.

0073Electrodes are formed on such substrates, and a voltage is selectively applied between desired electrodes to drive the liquid crystal for display. The electrodes are composed usually of transparent material such as ITO (In₂O₃-SnO₂), SnO₂ or the like, and low resistance leads of Al, Cr or Ti may be combined therewith in accordance with the individual requirements. And a desired patterning process is executed. A typical one is a dot matrix LCD device LCD device where a multiplicity of row and column electrode groups are existent. For example, striped 1920 electrodes are formed on one substrate while striped 400 electrodes are formed orthogonally thereto on another substrate, whereby a display capacity of 1920 x 400 dots is obtained.

0074In case electrodes are to be disposed in the peripheral region also, for example, striped 2040 electrodes are formed on one substrate while striped 440 electrodes are formed on another substrate to provide 2040 x 440 dots. In the exemplary constitution of Figure 2, a voltage is applied to the 120 left and right electrodes in the peripheral region and also to the 40 upper and lower electrodes therein in such a manner that the relevant pixels are kept in a light-shielded state, thereby reducing the nonuniformity of the background color in the peripheral region to consequently enhance the display quality. In the case of a negative type LCD device employing back light, a non-selective voltage may be applied to its peripheral region. More specifically, a non-selective voltage is applied continuously to the 20 electrodes in each of the upper and lower peripheral regions out of the striped 440 electrodes to be sequentially scanned, and peripheral regions. Accordingly, the electrodes in any peripheral region are not selected and therefore retained in a light-shielded state regardless of whether the other electrodes are selected or not.

0075Any of the known rubbing, oblique evaporation and other methods may be utilized for aligning the liquid crystal molecules. And the aligning treatment may be executed after the electrodes are coated with a film of inorganic material such as SiO₂, TiO₂ or Al₂O₃ and/or a film or organic material such as polyimide or polyamide in conformity with the individual requirements.

0076Any suitable ones of the known LCD elements may be employed for the spacer, sealing material, polarizing plate, reflecting plate, illumination means, driving circuit and so forth.

0077Besides the above, a variety of techniques utilized for the ordinary LCD devices are available within the scope not impairing the effects of the present invention.

0078The color LCD device of the present invention is adapted for use in personal computers, word processors and work stations as well as in any of various color display apparatus as such as liquid crystal television receivers, fish finders, radars, oscilloscopes and dot matrix display units.

0079In the present invention, color filters and light shielding layers partially overlap each other in both the display region and the peripheral region, so that when a cell is produced with spacers disposed on its inner surface, the inter-substrate gap can be maintained substantially uniform in each of the display and peripheral regions, hence attaining satisfactory uniformity in the gap between the substrates throughout the cell.

0080That is, in the constitution where the color filters and the light shielding layers partially overlap each other, it follows that, when spacers are disposed on the inner surface of the cell, the spacers are partially distributed in such overlaps as well, which then serve to thicken the inter-substrate gap.

0081Consequently, if the light shielding layers alone are disposed in the peripheral region, there are formed, in the display region, some portions which are partially higher than the peripheral region due to the mutual overlaps of the color filters and the light shielding layers, so that the inter-substrate gap in the display region becomes wider than that in the peripheral region to eventually form portions where the inter-substrate gap is gradually varied in the vicinity of the boundary between the display region and the peripheral region, whereby nonuniformity of the background color is prone to occur.

0082According to the present invention, the display region is also furnished with color filters and light shielding layers which are similar to those in the display region or have some adequate dimensions within a predetermined range. Thus, mutual overlaps of the color filters and the light shielding layers having substantially the same area as in the display region are formed also in the peripheral region, so that when spacers are disposed, the inter-substrate gap in the peripheral region is rendered substantially uniform and equal to that in the display region.

0083In this case, the inter-substrate gap can be controlled with a higher accuracy by the provision of electrodes in the peripheral region as well. Consequently there are foremd, in the peripheral region also, mutual overlaps of the color filters, the light shielding layers and the electrodes having substantially the same area as that in the display region, so that any variation caused in the inter-substrate gap with disposal of spacers is suppressed in the vicinity of the boundary between the peripheral region and the display region, whereby the inter-substrate gap is rendered substantially uniform even in the outermost portion of the display region to eventually avert nonuniformity of the background color.

0084Particularly in the constitution of Figure 2 where the peripheral region is furnished with the frame-shaped light shielding layers and the color filters for the pixels in the same manner as the display region, it is preferred that a voltage be so applied as to keep the peripheral pixels in a light shielded state, hence achieving enhanced control of the inter-substrate gap in the display region. Furthermore, although the uniformity of the inter-substrate gap in the peripheral region becomes lower than that in the display region, such is hardly recognized as the nonuniformity of the background color since the peripheral region is so driven as to be retained in a light-shielded state, whereby the display quality is further improved as a result. Besides the above, the display is rendered easier to be seen as the peripheral region is placed in a light-shielded state similarly to the light-shielded pixels in the display region.

0085Since the entire pixels in the peripheral region are retained in a light-shielded state, the peripheral electrodes may be shaped into striped ones similar to those for the pixels in the display region, or a plurality of electrodes may be grouped together to form a single electrode. However, it is preferred that the peripheral electrodes be exactly in conformity with those in the display region.

0086Hereinafter some examples of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

EXAMPLE 1

0087As illustrated in figures 1 and 4, thin-film light shielding layers of chromium were formed to a thickness of 100 nm on a glass substrate, and thick-film color filters (1056 x 272 pixels) were formed by R-G-B three color dyeing process to a thickness of 2.0 µm on electrode portions corresponding to pixels, in such a manner that the peripheries of the color filters were overlapped with the light shielding layers. And further an overcoat film (leveling layer) of polyimide was formed thereon.

0088As mentioned, the surface leveling was executed by forming the overcoat film of polyimide on the color filters and the light shielding layers, but is was difficuit to attain complete flatness of the surface. However, fine irregularities on the color filters were mostly leveled due to the existence of such overcoat film, and some large irregularities resulting from mutual overlaps of the color filters and the light shielding layers in the peripheries of the pixels were considerably eliminated in comparison with the conventional example using none of such overcoat film.

0089Thereafter such leveled surface was coated with ITO (In₂O₃-SnO₂) and then patterned to form striped 960 column electrodes, and further an insulator film of SiO₂-­TiO₂ was formed on the entire surface to a thickness of 100 nm. Subsequently a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and rubbing was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a column-electrode substrate.

0090Meanwhile, striped 240 row electrodes were formed on another glass substrate orthogonally to the column electrodes, and an insulator film of SiO₂-TiO₂ was formed to a thickness of 300 nm on the entire surface. Then, a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a row-­electrode substrate in such a manner that liquid crystal molecules have a twist angle of 240° at the time of completion of a cell by combining the row-electrode substrate with the aforementioned column-electrode substrate.

0091In such two substrates, striped electrodes similar to those in the display region were formed also in the peripheral region surrounding the display region.

0092The column-electrode substrate and the row-electrode substrate were so arranged that the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules become 240°, and a cell was constituted by sealing up the peripheries of the substrates. And a dot matrix LC cell was produced with supply of nematic liquid crystal material therein.

0093A layer of polyimide was deposited to a thickness of 70 nm on a glass substrate, and it was processed by rubbing to form an aligning film. Two of such substrates were so arranged that liquid crystal molecules have a twist angle of 240° in the reverse direction with respect to the dot matrix LC cell and, after sealing at the peripheries, nematic liquid crystal material was poured therein to produce an LC cell for retardation compensation.

0094The dot matrix LC cell was superposed on such retardation compensating LC cell to constitute a laminated structure, and a pair of polarizing plates were disposed on the two sides thereof to manufacture a negative type LCD device.

0095In the LCD device thus obtained, each of the display region and the peripheral region was furnished with the color filters and the light shielding layers having the same pattern (same area) respectively, so that the gap between the substrates was rendered substantially uniform in both the display region and the peripheral region, hence ensuring visually satisfactory color display.

0096It is to be noted that even if the LCD device of such constitution is modified into a positive display type with adequate adjustment of the relationship among the refringence anisotropy (Δn) of the liquid crystal material, the aligning direction and the axis of polarization thereof, since any region other than the pixel portion is covered with the light shielding layer, it is still usable as a negative type LCD device when driven by the application of a voltage to desired segments to be darkened, in a manner contrary to driving the ordinary negative type LCD device.

0097Therefore, this LCD device is usable apparently for negative type display regardless of whether it is produced as a negative type or positive type structurally.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

0098In a conventional LCD device having the same constitution as that of Example 1 with the exception that no color filter was provided on any light shielding layer in the peripheral region, the contrast was reduced in the shape of a frame with a width of about 5 mm inside the edge of the display region, and the display quality was deteriorated.

EXAMPLES 2 and 3

0099Modified color LCD devices were manufactured by changing the area of the color filters on the light shielding layer in the peripheral region of Example 1 to 80% (in Example 2) and 60% (in Example 3), respectively.

0100In each of Examples 2 and 3, the inter-substrate gap was substantially uniform in both the display region and the peripheral region, and visually satisfactory color display was attained. However, in Example 3, the uniformity of the inter-substrate gap was slightly lower than that in Examples 1 or 2.

EXAMPLE 4

0101Light shielding layers having a thickness of about 1.2 µm were formed by a dyeing process in place of the light shielding layers used in Example 1, and also color filters having a thickness of about 1.8 µm were formed by a dyeing process, and they were arranged as illustrated in Figure 2.

0102In this negative type LCD device where each of the display region and the peripheral region was furnished with the color filters and the light shielding layers having the same pattern (same area) respectively, the gap between the substrates was rendered substantially uniform in both the display region and the peripheral region, thereby achieving visually satisfactory display.

EXAMPLE 5

0103Light shielding layers similar to those used in Example 4 were formed on the entire surface of the peripheral region as illustrated in Figure 3, and also color filters similar to those in Example 4 were formed partially (in the area corresponding to about 15% of the color filters in the display region).

0104In this negative type LCD device where the color filters were formed partially on the light shielding layers in the peripheral region, the inter-substrate gap was substantially uniform in both the display region and the peripheral region to consequently realize visually satisfactory display.

0105In the LCD device of such constitution where any portions other than the pixel portions are covered with the light shielding layers similarly to Example 1, it is usable apparently as a negative type LCD device regardless of whether it is produced structurally as a nagative type or positive type.

EXAMPLE 6

0106A glass substrate was coated with ITO and then patterned as illustrated in Figure 1 to form striped 960 column electrodes, and an insulator film of SiO₂-TiO₂ was formed to a thickness of 300 nm on the entire surface. Further thin-film light shielding layers of chromium were fromed thereon to a thickness of 100 nm, and thereafter color filters were formed by R-G-B three color dyeing process to a thickness of 2.0 µm. Subsequently a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and it was processed by rubbing to form an aligning layer, thereby constituting a column-electrode substrate.

0107Meanwhile, striped 240 row electrodes were formed on another glass substrate orthogonally to the column electrodes, and an insulator film of SiO₂-TiO₂ was formed to a thickness of 300 nm on the entire surface. Then a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thicknessof 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a row-electrode substrate in such a manner that liquid crystal molecules have a twist angle of 240° at the time of completion of a cell by combining the row-electrode substrate with the aforementioned column-electrode substrate.

0108Such row-electrode substrate and column-electrode substrate were assembled as in the foregoing examples to produce a dot matrix LC cell. Subsequently an LC cell for retardation compensation was superposed thereon as in Example 1, and a pair of polarizing plates were disposed on the two sides to manufacture a negative type LCD device.

0109In the LCD device thus obtained, the inter-substrate gap was rendered more uniform than that in Comparative Example 1. However, the surface irregularities became greater than those in Example 1 due to the structure where the color filters and the light shielding layers were disposed on the electrodes, so that the uniformity of the inter-substrate gap was slightly inferior to that in Example 1.

0110Although visually satisfactory color display was attained, the existence of the thick color filters on the electrodes caused variations in the effective voltage applied substantially to the liquid crystal layer, hence reducing the contrast as compared with Example 1 and slightly lowering the visual quality in the display.

EXAMPLE 7

0111Thin-film light shielding layers of chromium were formed to a thickness of 100 nm on a glass substrate, and thick-film color filters wer formed by R-G-B three color dyeing process to a thickness of 2.0 µm on electrode portions corresponding to pixels, in such a manner that the peripheries of the color filters were overlapped with the light shielding layers. And further an overcoat film (leveling layer) of transparent acrylic resin was formed thereon.

0112As mentioned, the surface leveling was thus executed by forming such overcoat film of transparent acrylic resin on the color filters and the light shielding layers, but it was difficult to attain complete flatness of the surface. However, fine irregularities on the color filters were mostly leveled due to the existence of such overcoat film, and some large irregularities resulting from mutual overlaps of the color filters and the light shielding layers in the peripheries of the pixels were eliminated considerably in comparison with the conventional example using none of such overcoat film.

0113Thereafter such leveled surface was coated with ITO to a thickness of 240 nm and then was patterned to form atriped 272 row electrodes, and further a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so. Subsequently a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a row-­electrode substrate.

0114Meanwhile, striped 1056 column electrodes were formed on another glass substrate orthogonally to the row electrodes, and an insulator film of SiO₂-TiO₂ was formed to a thickness of 50 nm on the entire surface. Then a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a column-­electrode substrate in such a manner that liquid crystal molecules have a twist angle of 240° at the time of completion of a cell by combining the column-electrode substrate with the aforementioned row-electrode substrate.

0115The row-electrode substrate and the column-electrode substrate were so arranged that the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules became 240°, and a cell was constituted by sealing up the peripheries of the substrates. And a dot matrix LC cell was produced with supply of nematic liquid crystal material therein.

0116A layer of polyimide was deposited to a thickness of 70 nm on a glass substrate, and it was processed by rubbing to form and aligning film Two of such substrates were so arranged that liquid crystal molecules have a twist angle of 240° in the reverse direction with respect to the dot matrix LC cell and, after sealing at the peripheries, nematic liquid crystal material was poured therein to produce an LC cell for retardation compensation.

0117The dot matrix LC cell was superposed on such retardation compensating LC cell to constitute a laminated structure, and a pair of polarizing plates were disposed on the two sides thereof to manufacture a negative type LCD device.

0118Out of the total 1056 x 272 dots in the LCD device thus obtained, merely 960 x 240 dots alone in the central area were used for display, and a non-selective voltage was applied to the electrodes in the peripheral region to place them in a light-shielded state.

0119In this LCD device where the display region and the peripheral region are furnished with the color filters and the light shielding layers having the same pattern (same area) respectively, so that the gap between the substrates is rendered substantially uniform in both the display region and the peripheral region, hence ensuring visually satisfactory color display.

EXAMPLE 8

0120The entire surface between the periphery region and the seal in Example 7 was covered with a light shielding layer, whereby the space between the seal and the display region could be widened even though the peripheral region was narrow, hence achieving further enhanced uniformity.

EXAMPLE 9

0121Light shielding layers formed by the dyeing process to a thickness of about 1.2 µm as in Example 4 were used in place of the light shielding layers and the color filters in Example 7, and both light shielding layers and color filters were formed to serve as the dyed color filters having a thickness of about 1.8 µm.

0122In this negative type LCD device also, the display region and the peripheral region were furnished with the color filters and the light shielding layers having the same pattern (same area) respectively, so that the gap between the substrates was rendered substantially uniform in both the display region and the peripheral region, whereby the uniformity of the backgroud color was less conspicuous than in Example 4 and visually satisfactory color display was attained.

EXAMPLE 10

0123In Example 9, the color filters and the light shielding layers were formed correspondingly to 1056 x 272 dots, and 960 column electrodes and 240 row electrodes were formed in the display region. However, in the peripheral region, the respective 16 electrodes were grouped together into a single wide electrode. Consequently, in the peripheral region, there were disposed three striped column electrodes on each of the left and right sides and one striped row electrode at each of the upper and lower positions, thereby enabling visual representation with 960 x 240 dots in the display region.

0124In this negative type LCD device also, the display region and the peripheral region were furnished with the color filters and the light shielding layers having the same pattern (same area) respectively, so that the inter-­substrate gap in the display region was substantially uniform to eventually achieve visually satisfactory color display.

EXAMPLE 11

0125Electrodes of ITO equal in pitch to striped 1056 column electrodes for color filters were electrodeposited on a glass substrate, and R-G-B three color filters having a thickness of 2.0 µm were formed by electrodeposition. And light shielding layers equal in thickness thereto were formed by printing in the space between the color filters.

0126An overcoat film of transparent acrylic resin was formed on the color filters, and further it was coated with ITO to a thickness of 240 nm and then patterned to form striped 272 row electrode groups. Subsequently a layer of polyimide was deposited to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film thereby constituting a row-electrode substrate.

0127Meanwhile, striped 1056 column electrode groups were formed on another glass substrate orthogonally to the aforementioned row electrode groups, and an insulator film of SiO₂-TiO₂ was formed on the entire surface to a thickness of 50 nm. Subsequently a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a column-electrode substrate in such as manner that liquid crystal molecules have a twist angle of 240° at the time of completion of a celll of combining the column-electrode substrate with the afore­said row-electrode substrate.

0128The row-electrode substrate and the column-electrode substrate were combined with each other to manufacture an LCD device as in Example 7

0129The device thus assembled had a capability of display with 960 x 240 dots.

0130In this negative type LCD device also, both the display region and the peripheral region are furnished with the color filters, light shielding layers and electrodes having the same pattern (same area) respectively, so that the inter-substrate gap in the display region becomes substantially uniform to consequently attain visually satisfactory color display.

EXAMPLE 12

0131The entire surface between the periphery region and the seal in Example 11 was covered with a light shielding layer, whereby the space between the seal and the display region could be widened even though the peripheral region was narrow, hence achieving further enhanced uniformity.

EXAMPLE 13

0132A glass substrate was coated with ITO and then patterned to form striped 240 row electrode groups and thick-film light shielding layers were formed to a thickness of 1.2 µm by a dyeing process. Subsequently R-­G-B three color filters having a thickness of 2.0 µm were formed by a dyeing method. Then, a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning layer, thereby constituting a column-electrode substrate.

0133Meanwhile, striped 960 column electrode groups were formed on another glass substrate in a manner to be orthogonal to the row electrode groups, and an insulator film of SiO₂-TiO₂ was formed to a thickness of 50 nm on the entire surface. Then a layer of polyimide was deposited thereon to a thickness of 70 nm or so, and a rubbing process was executed to form an aligning film, thereby constituting a row-electrode substrate in such a manner that liquid crytal molecules have a twist angle of 240° at the time of completion of a cell by combining the column-electrode substrate with the aforementioned row-­electrode substrate.

0134Such row-electrode substrate and column-electrode substrate were assembled as in Example 7 to produce a dot matrix LC cell. Subsequently an LC cell for retardation compensation was superposed thereon as in Example 7, and a pair of polarizing plates were disposed on the two sides to manufacture a negative type LCD device having a display capacity of 912 x 208 dots.

0135Although visually satisfactory display was achieved in this LCD device, there occurred, due to the existence of the thick color filters on the electrodes, some variations in the effective voltage applied substantially to the liquid crystal layer, so that the contrast was lower than that in Example 7 and the display quality was slightly inferior.

EXAMPLES 14-26

0136Instead of the retardation compensating LC cell used in Examples 1 to 13, an optical compensating sheet composed of a uniaxial high-molecular film of plycarbonate was superposed on each of the two surfaces of the dot matrix LC cell to manufacture an LCD device.

0137Such LCD device was connected to a driving circuit and then was driven in the same manner as Examples 1 to 13. The resultant effects attained were similar to those in the foregoing examples.

EXAMPLES 27-39

0138Instead of the retardation compensating LC cell used in Examples 1-13, two optical compensating sheets composed of uniaxial high-molecular films of polycarbonate were superposed on one surface of the dot matrix LC cell to manufacture an LCD device.

0139Such LCD device was connected to a driving circuit and then was driven in the same manner as Examples 1-13. The resultant effects attained were similar to those in Examples 1 13.

0140According to the present invention, as described hereinabove, the gap between the substrates can be maintained uniform with facility to eventually realize visually satisfactory color display.

0141In particular, great effects are attainable by applying the present invention to the STN type LCD device where high uniformity is requisite with respect to the inter-substrate gap although there are ensured some advantages including satisfactory multiplexing display characteristics, wide viewing angle, high contrast and so forth. Similarly, remarkable effects can be achieved by applying the present invention to a ferro-electric LCD device.

0142With adoption of the constitution shown in Figures 1 and 2, color filters for both the display region and the peripheral region can be produced by using the same mask or printing plate, hence realizing high productivity.

0143Furthermore, due to the additional provision of electrodes in the peripheral region as well, any variation in the inter-substrate gap is suppressed in the vicinity of the boundary between the peripheral region and the display region, whereby such inter-substrate gap is retained substantially uniform even at the outermost periphery of the display region, hence averting nonuniformity of the backgroud color.

0144Particularly in the exemplary constitution of Figure 2 where the frame-like light shielding layers and the color filters for the pixels therein are disposed in the peripheral region as well as in the display region, so that the gap control in the display region is made further uniform by applying a voltage to the peripheral pixels in a manner to keep them in a light-shielded state. Although the uniformity of the inter-substrate gap in the peripheral region is somewhat lower than that in the display region, since the peripheral region is so driven as to be kept in a light-shielded state, it is hardly recognized as the nonuniformity of the background color to eventually enhance the display quality. In addition, the display is rendered easier to be seen since the peripheral region is placed in a light-shielded state similarly to the light-shielded pixels in the display region.

0145It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and examples along and may be applicable also to a variety of modifications for use in known LCD devices within the scope not impairing the effects of the invention.