IP Library Granted Patent US 7,961,286
Granted Patent B2
US 7,961,286 · App. 12/585,172 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Liquid crystal display device having rectangular-shaped pixel electrodes overlapping with comb-shaped counter electrodes in plan view

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,961,286
App. No.
12/585,172
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention realizes a bright image display by enhancing a numerical aperture of pixels. At least a portion of a pixel electrode is overlapped to a thin film transistor by way of a first insulation film, the pixel electrode is connected to an output electrode of the thin film transistor via a contact hole which is formed in the first insulation film, the counter electrode is arranged above the pixel electrode by way of a second insulation film in a state that the counter electrode is overlapped to the pixel electrode, the counter electrode is formed at a position avoiding the contact hole formed in the first insulation film as viewed in a plan view, and at least a portion of the counter electrode is overlapped to the thin film transistor.

Claims (25)

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate which forms pixel electrodes, counter electrodes, thin film transistors and pixel regions thereof;

a second substrate which faces the first substrate in an opposed manner; and

a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein

each of the pixel regions is surrounded by a pair of gate lines and a pair of drain lines,

each of the pixel electrodes is formed in a corresponding one of the pixel regions respectively,

each of the pixel electrodes is formed in a rectangular shape which substantially covers said corresponding pixel regions in a plan view,

each of the counter electrode is formed in a comb shape in a plan view and has teeth portions,

a display region which contributes to a display is formed in said each pixel region,

at least a portion of said each pixel electrode overlaps a corresponding one of the thin film transistors in a plan view via a first insulation film provided therebetween,

said each pixel electrode is connected to an output electrode of the thin film transistor via a contact hole which is formed in the first insulation film, the contact hole being disposed in the display region formed in said corresponding pixel region and covered with said each pixel electrode,

said each counter electrode is arranged at a portion above an entire portion of said each pixel electrode with a second insulation film in-between in an area where the teeth portions of said each counter electrode overlap said each pixel electrode in the plan view, and

at least one of the teeth portions of said each counter electrode overlaps a semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor in the plan view.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the semiconductor layer of the thin film transistor is disposed in the display region.

3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein said each counter electrode is formed at a position avoiding the contact hole formed in the first insulation film in the plan view.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second insulation film is filled in the contact hole.

5. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 4 , wherein the second insulation film in a region overlapped to the contact hole has a liquid-crystal-layer-side surface thereof leveled.

6. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the teeth portions of said each counter electrode overlaps the contact hole in the plan view.

7. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein an insulation member which is made of a material different from a material of the second insulation film is filled in the contact hole.

8. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 , wherein the second insulation film in a region overlapped to the contact hole has a liquid-crystal-layer-side surface thereof leveled.

9. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 , wherein the insulation member is made of a photosensitive resist.

10. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the teeth portions of said each counter electrode overlaps the contact hole in the plan view.

11. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display region where the contact hole is disposed is a reflective display region.

12. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a region where the thin film transistor is disposed constitutes a reflective display region.

13. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal display device includes a reflective display region and a transmissive display region.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC
To: MAGNOLIA PURPLE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071890/0202 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST, INC.
Reel/Frame 065614/0223 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: JAPAN DISPLAY EAST, INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065614/0644 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
To: JAPAN DISPLAY, INC.
Reel/Frame 065654/0250 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
Reel/Frame 065615/0327 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 13, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027482/0140 →
ATTACHED ARE (1) THE COMPANY SPLIT DOCUMENTS IN JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION THEREOF AND (2) THE CERTIFICATE OF COMPANY SPLIT DOCUMENT IN JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION, WHICH TOGETHER CONVEY 50% OWNERSHIP OF THE REGISTERED PATENTS AS LISTED IN THE ATTACHED TO EACH OF THE RECEIVING PARTIES (SEE PAGE 10, EXHIBIT 2-1, SECTION 1 OF THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF THE COMPANY SPLIT PLAN.) Recorded Dec 13, 2011
From: HITACHI, DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.; IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027615/0589 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2009
From: OCHIAI, TAKAHIRO; SASAKI, TOHRU; IMAYAMA, HIROTAKA; MORIMOTO, MASATERU
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 023249/0947 →