IP Library Granted Patent US 7,738,069
Granted Patent B2
US 7,738,069 · App. 12/081,347 · Granted Jun 15, 2010

Liquid crystal display device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,738,069
App. No.
12/081,347
Granted
Jun 15, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a liquid crystal display device in which light leaks near spacers are prevented. The liquid crystal display device controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, includes spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates, signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate, an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines, and electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer. Each of the spacers has a vertex surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, and a portion of each of the electrodes is extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion is opposed to a part of the vertex surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.

Claims (11)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate and a second substrate are disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;

a plurality of gate signal lines and a plurality of drain signal lines formed on the first substrate;

a plurality of pixel regions each defined by adjacent gate signal lines and drain signal lines of the plurality of gate signal lines and the plurality of drain signal lines respectively, each pixel region including a respective TFT element formed on one of the gate signal lines defining the pixel region and connected to the drain signal lines defining the pixel region,

a plurality of spacers formed on a liquid crystal side of the second substrate, the plurality of spacers including a spacer in each pixel region;

wherein each pixel region has a height difference portion formed on a liquid crystal side of one of the gate signal lines defining the pixel region,

wherein the spacer of each pixel region is formed in opposition to the height difference portion of the pixel region such that a peak of the spacer touches the height difference portion, and

wherein the height difference portion and the spacer of each pixel region are formed at a different position in the pixel region than the TFT element included in the pixel region.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of an insulating layer intervenes between the gate signal lines and the peak of spacers in each of the pixel regions.

3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein a black matrix is formed on the second substrate, and wherein the spacers are superimposed on the black matrix.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pixel electrodes is formed on the first substrate, and wherein a plurality of common electrodes is formed on the second substrate.

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2020
From: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST, INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 053465/0807 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Aug 12, 2020
From: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 053465/0864 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 12, 2020
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST, INC.
Reel/Frame 053464/0009 →
MERGER/CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 12, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027363/0315 →
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING FIFTY (50) PERCENT SHARE OF PATENTS AND PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Dec 12, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027362/0466 →
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING ONE HUNDRED (100) PERCENT SHARE OF PATENT AND PATENT APPLICATIONS Recorded Dec 12, 2011
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 027362/0612 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2008
From: YANAGAWA, KAZUHIKO; IWAKABE, YASUSHI; NAKAYOSHI, YOSHIAKI; WAKAGI, MASATOSHI
To: HITACHI, LTD.
Reel/Frame 020846/0460 →