Semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel

1. A semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel comprising:

a first substrate divided into sections by signal lines and scan lines arranged so as to form a matrix, each section having a switching element and a pixel electrode, the pixel electrode having transmissive and reflective portions;

a second substrate having a color filter layer and a common electrode; and

a liquid crystal layer sealed in between the first substrate and the second substrate,

wherein at least the reflective portion of the first substrate has an interlayer film formed therein for separating the pixel electrode and the switching element, and a reflecting layer located below the pixel electrode,

wherein the reflective and transmissive portions of the pixel electrode are electrically connected to each other via a smaller-width portion as seen in a plan view,

wherein the reflecting layer has a notch portion in a position facing the smaller-width portion of the pixel electrode as seen in a plan view, the notch portion being formed so as to have a width larger than a width of the smaller-width portion, and

wherein the pixel electrode formed in the reflective portion is electrically connected to an electrode of the switching element via a contact hole that is formed through the interlayer film in a part thereof corresponding to the notch portion.

2. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel electrode and the reflecting layer are formed on an interlayer film formed over an entire display region of the first substrate, and

wherein a topcoat layer is formed on the second substrate in a part thereof corresponding to the reflective portion.

3. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of claim 1 ,

wherein the pixel electrode has a slit between the transmissive portion and the reflective portion,

wherein the second substrate has alignment control means at least in a part thereof that corresponds to the transmissive portion,

wherein a vertical alignment film is laid on surfaces of the first and second substrates, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer is formed of liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy.

4. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of claim 2 ,

wherein the pixel electrode has a slit between the transmissive portion and the reflective portion,

wherein the second substrate has alignment control means at least in a part thereof that corresponds to the transmissive portion,

wherein a vertical alignment film is laid on surfaces of the first and second substrates, and

wherein the liquid crystal layer is formed of liquid crystals with negative dielectric anisotropy.

5. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of claim 4 , wherein the alignment control means is formed as a protrusion.

6. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of claim 4 , wherein the alignment control means is formed as a slit formed in the common electrode.

7. The semi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of claim 3 , wherein, as seen in a plan view, the pixel electrode formed in the transmissive portion does not overlap the signal line, and overlaps the scan line.