Liquid crystal display device having etching stopper electrode and method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a switching element that has a drain electrode and that is arranged on a substrate;

a first insulating film that covers the switching element and that has a first opening on the drain electrode;

a first etching stopper electrode that is formed in the first opening and that is connected to the drain electrode;

a common electrode that is arranged on the first insulating film;

a second insulating film that covers the first etching stopper electrode and the common electrode, and that has a second opening on the first etching stopper electrode, wherein the second insulating film is formed in a space between the common electrode and the first etching stopper electrode; and

a pixel electrode that is connected through the second opening to the first etching stopper electrode and that extends onto the second insulating film so as to face the common electrode and overlap both of the first etching stopper electrode and the common electrode.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a lower layer electrode for external connection, which is arranged on the substrate and which is covered with the first insulating film;

a second etching stopper electrode that is formed on the first insulating film and that is connected through an opening of the first insulating film to the lower layer electrode; and

an upper layer electrode for external connection, which is formed on the second insulating film and which is connected to the second etching stopper electrode in an opening of the second insulating film.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an opposite substrate that is arranged so as to face the substrate; and

a liquid crystal that is held between the substrate and the opposite substrate, wherein

an alignment direction of the liquid crystal is controlled by an electric field generated between the common electrode and the pixel electrode.

4. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a switching element that has a drain electrode and that is arranged on a substrate;

a common electrode line that is arranged on the substrate;

a lead line that extends from the common electrode line;

a first insulating film that covers the switching element, the drain electrode and the lead line, and that has a first opening on the drain electrode and a second opening on the lead line;

a first etching stopper electrode that is formed in the second opening and that is connected to the lead line;

a pixel electrode that is arranged on the first insulating film;

a second insulating film that covers the first etching stopper electrode and the pixel electrode, and that has a third opening on the first etching stopper electrode, wherein the second insulating film is formed in a space between the pixel electrode and the first etching stopper electrode; and

a common electrode that is connected through the third opening to the first etching stopper electrode and that extends onto the second insulating film so as to face the pixel electrode and overlap both of the first etching stopper electrode and the pixel electrode.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a lower layer electrode for external connection, which is arranged on the substrate and which is covered with the first insulating film;

a second etching stopper electrode that is formed on the first insulating film and that is connected through an opening of the first insulating film to the lower layer electrode; and

an upper layer electrode for external connection, which is formed on the second insulating film and which is connected to the second etching stopper electrode in an opening of the second insulating film.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

an opposite substrate that is arranged so as to face the substrate; and

a liquid crystal that is held between the substrate and the opposite substrate, wherein

an alignment direction of the liquid crystal is controlled by an electric field generated between the common electrode and the pixel electrode.

7. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a switching element that has a drain electrode and that is arranged on a substrate;

a common electrode line that is arranged on the substrate;

a first insulating film that covers the switching element, the drain electrode and the common electrode line, and that has a first opening on the drain electrode and a second opening on the common electrode line;

a first etching stopper electrode that is formed in the second opening and that is connected to the common electrode line;

a pixel electrode that is arranged on the first insulating film;

a second insulating film that covers the first etching stopper electrode and the pixel electrode, and that has a third opening on the first etching stopper electrode, wherein the second insulating film is formed in a space between the pixel electrode and the first etching stopper electrode; and

a common electrode that is connected through the third opening to the first etching stopper electrode and that extends onto the second insulating film so as to face the pixel electrode and overlap both of the first etching stopper electrode and the pixel electrode.

8. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a lower layer electrode for external connection, which is arranged on the substrate and which is covered with the first insulating film;

a second etching stopper electrode that is formed on the first insulating film and that is connected through an opening of the first insulating film to the lower layer electrode; and

an upper layer electrode for external connection, which is formed on the second insulating film and which is connected to the second etching stopper electrode in an opening of the second insulating film.

9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

an opposite substrate that is arranged so as to face the substrate; and

a liquid crystal that is held between the substrate and the opposite substrate, wherein

an alignment direction of the liquid crystal is controlled by an electric field generated between the common electrode and the pixel electrode.