Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method therefor

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal composition including a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by either active energy rays or active energy rays combined with heat, disposed between a pair of substrates composed of a first substrate having scanning electrodes, signal electrodes, pixel electrodes, and thin film transistors, for applying voltage to a liquid crystal layer, and a second substrate having a counter electrode, said first and second substrates being devoid of protrusions for aligning liquid crystal molecules;

wherein in a state that liquid crystal molecules are present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes and tilted in a direction from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward said pixel electrode, said polymerizable compound is polymerized by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat, with or without applying voltage between the electrodes; and

wherein the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable compound is polymerized while voltage is applied to each electrode, so that the potential difference between said pixel electrode and said counter electrode is greater than the potential difference between said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes and said counter electrode.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein, by adjusting the thickness of an insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes, a state is produced in which liquid crystal molecules in a gap between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward said pixel electrode.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein the insulating layer provided between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is composed of a plurality of layers.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4 , wherein, for said plurality of layers, an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer are used.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is in a range of from 1 to 5 μm.

7. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein the thickness of the insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said signal electrode is greater than the thickness of an insulating layer provided between said scanning electrode and said signal electrode.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein a surface portion on the first substrate side of liquid crystal layer contacting surfaces between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes forms a slope descending from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward said pixel electrode, when viewed from a direction substantially normal to the display screen of the liquid crystal display device.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8 , wherein, regarding said pixel electrodes, a protrusion of which the peak is present on or over at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is provided between two pixel electrodes adjacent to each other.

10. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein, when viewed from a direction substantially normal to the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes has a portion being overlaid with a portion of said pixel electrode.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein, when viewed from a direction substantially normal to the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, a light-shielding portion is provided only in the vicinity of a portion which overlaps said scanning electrode.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein a color filter is provided on said second substrate.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein vertical alignment control films are coated on said first and second substrates.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable compound comprises an acrylate group, a methacrylate group, or both acrylate and methacrylate groups.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable compound comprises a plurality of acrylate or methacrylate groups in a molecule.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid crystal has a negative dielectric anisotropy.

17. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said liquid crystal has a property of being nearly vertically aligned when no voltage is applied, and being tilted in a direction regulated by slits of the electrode, when voltage is applied.

18. A liquid crystal display device wherein:

a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by active energy rays or a combination of the active energy rays and heat, is disposed between a pair of substrates having electrodes for applying voltage onto a liquid crystal layer and a vertical alignment control film for causing liquid crystal molecules to be aligned vertically; and

said polymerizable compound is then polymerized by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat while applying voltage between the electrodes, so that the liquid crystal molecules have a pre-tilt angle,

as a result of which the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in said liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.

19. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 18 , wherein the amount of the polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is not more than 0.02 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.

20. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device comprising:

on a first substrate, providing scanning electrode, signal electrodes, pixel electrodes and thin film transistors for applying voltage to a liquid crystal layer;

on a second substrate, providing a counter electrode;

between a pair of said first and second substrates, disposing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by either active energy rays or active energy rays combined with heat, said first and second substrates being devoid of protrusions for aligning liquid crystal molecules; and

in a state that liquid crystal molecules present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward the pixel electrode, polymerizing said polymerizable compound by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat, with or without applying voltage between the electrodes;

wherein the polymerization is performed until the amount of said polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is decreased to not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.

21. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein the polymerizable compound is polymerized while voltage is applied to each electrode, so that the potential difference between said pixel electrode and said counter electrode is greater than the potential difference between said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes and said counter electrode.

22. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein, by adjusting the thickness of an insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes, a state is produced in which liquid crystal molecules in a gap between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward said pixel electrode.

23. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 22 , wherein the insulating layer provided between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is composed of a plurality of layers.

24. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 23 , wherein, for said plurality of layers, an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer are used.

25. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 22 , wherein the thickness of the insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is set in a range of from 1 to 5 μm.

26. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 22 , wherein the thickness of the insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said signal electrode is greater than the film thickness of an insulating layer provided between said scanning electrode and said signal electrode.

27. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein, when viewed from a direction substantially normal to the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, a surface portion on the first substrate side of liquid crystal layer contacting surfaces between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is made to form a slope descending from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward said pixel electrode.

28. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 27 , wherein, regarding the pixel electrode, a protrusion of which the peak is present on or over at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes is provided between two pixel electrodes adjacent to each other.

29. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein, when viewed from a direction substantially normal to the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes has a portion being overlaid with a portion of said pixel electrode.

30. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein, when viewed from a direction substantially normal to the display screen of the liquid crystal display device, a light-shielding portion is provided only in the vicinity of a portion which overlaps said scanning electrode.

31. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein a color filter is provided on the second substrate.

32. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein vertical alignment control films are coated on said first and second substrates.

33. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein said polymerizable compound comprises an acrylate group, a methacrylate group, or both acrylate and methacrylate groups.

34. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein said polymerizable compound comprises a plurality of acrylate or methacrylate groups in a molecule.

35. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein said liquid crystal has a negative dielectric anisotropy.

36. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 20 , wherein, after said polymerization, said liquid crystal has a property of being nearly vertically aligned when no voltage is applied, and being tilted in a direction regulated by either protrusions formed on or over a substrate or slits of the electrode, when voltage is applied.

37. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device comprising:

disposing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by active energy rays or a combination of the active energy rays and heat, between a pair of substrates having electrodes for applying voltage onto a liquid crystal layer and a vertical alignment control film for causing liquid crystal molecules to be aligned vertically; and

polymerizing said polymerizable compound by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat while applying voltage between the electrodes, so that the liquid crystal molecules have a pre-tilt angle,

wherein the polymerization is performed until the amount of said polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is decreased to not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.

38. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to claim 37 , wherein the polymerization is performed until the amount of said polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is decreased to not more than 0.02 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.

39. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device comprising:

on a first substrate, providing scanning electrode, signal electrodes, pixel electrodes and thin film transistors for applying voltage to a liquid crystal layer;

on a second substrate, providing a counter electrode;

between a pair of said first and second substrates, disposing a liquid crystal composition comprising a liquid crystal and a polymerizable compound that is polymerizable by either active energy rays or active energy rays combined with heat, said first and second substrates being devoid of protrusions for aligning liquid crystal molecules; and

in a state that liquid crystal molecules present in a gap between a pixel electrode and at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward the pixel electrode, polymerizing said polymerizable compound by active energy ray irradiation, or by both active energy ray irradiation and heat, with or without applying voltage between the electrodes;

wherein, by adjusting the thickness of an insulating layer installed between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes, a state is produced in which liquid crystal molecules in a gap between said pixel electrode and said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes are tilted in a direction from said at least either one of the signal electrodes and the scanning electrodes toward said pixel electrode, and

wherein the polymerization is performed until the amount of said polymerizable compound remaining in the liquid crystal composition after the polymerization is decreased to not more than 0.05 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the liquid crystal.