Liquid crystal display having protrusion-like structures between pair of substrates
View Patent ↗The invention relates to liquid crystal displays used in display sections of electronic apparatus and provides a liquid crystal display in which high anti-pressure characteristics can be achieved with a high aperture ratio maintained. A configuration is provided, which includes a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other, a liquid crystal sealed between the substrates, a plurality of pixel regions provided on the substrates, and protrusion-like structures provided in the pixel regions for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal and maintaining a cell thickness between the substrates.
1. A liquid crystal display comprising:
a pair of substrates provided opposite to each other;
a liquid crystal sealed between the pair of substrates;
a plurality of pixel regions provided on the substrates; and
protrusion-like structures provided in the pixel regions to both regulate the alignment of the liquid crystal and to maintain a cell thickness between the pair of substrates,
wherein at least one of the protrusion-like structures is provided at an aperture of the pixel regions, has a first end formed on one of the substrates, and a second end continuously in contact with the other substrate,
wherein some of the protrusion-like structures contact both of the pair of substrates to maintain a first cell thickness, and the other protrusion-like structures contact both of the pair of substrates to maintain a second cell thickness smaller than the first cell thickness when a pressure is applied thereto from outside.
2. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein the area occupied by the protrusion-like structure provided at the aperture is equal to or smaller than 10 % of the area of the aperture.
3. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the protrusion-like structures are provided in at least one of the pixel regions.
4. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion-like structures have a side section at a taper angle of 45° or less.
5. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , further comprising alignment regulating protrusions for regulating the alignment of the liquid crystal, which are formed in the pixel regions with a height smaller than that of the protrusion-like structures, wherein a part of at least some of the protrusion-like structures is formed of the same material as that of the alignment regulating protrusions.
6. A liquid crystal display according to claim 5 , wherein surface sections of at least some of the protrusion-like structures are formed of the same material as that of the alignment regulating protrusions.
7. A liquid crystal display according to claim 5 , wherein the alignment regulating protrusions are formed of a positive resist.
8. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the protrusion-like structures is formed of a negative resist.
9. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of electrode units, a connection electrode for electrically connecting the electrode units, and a pixel electrode provided in each of the pixel regions, wherein the protrusion-like structures are provided in positions substantially corresponding to the centers of the electrode units.
10. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal is aligned substantially perpendicularly to the surfaces of the substrates and has negative dielectric constant anisotropy.
11. A liquid crystal display according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion-like structures are provided only in a pixel region having a color filter layer in blue.