Electro-optical device and electronic equipment

• US 20040036941A1
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Adachi, Isao
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/223
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13394 spacers regularly patterned on the cell subtrate, e.g. walls, pillars G02F1/133377 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention provides an electro-optical device which displays image of high quality without forming poorly oriented regions that stem from the presence of pole-like spacers, yet achieving a high numerical aperture. Pole-like spacers according to the invention are provided on at least either one of a first substrate and a second substrate holding a liquid crystal layer and on the to-be-provided surface of the one substrate on the side facing the liquid crystal layer, the pole-like spacers having, at the roots thereof, a slope portion with a surface smoothly connecting to the to-be-provided surface.

Claims

1. An electro-optical device, comprising:

an electro-optical substance;

a pair of substrates holding the electro-optical substance; and

pole-like spacers provided on at least one of the pair of substrates on a to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate facing the electro-optical substance, the pole-like spacers having, at roots thereof, a slope portion with a surface connecting to the to-be-provided surface.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further including an orientation film formed on the to-be-provided surface, the pole-like spacers having an elliptic shape in cross-section on a plane in parallel with the to-be-provided surface, and a long diameter of the elliptic shape extending in a direction in agreement with a direction in which the orientation film is rubbed.

4. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, the slope portion being formed on an entire outer circumference of the pole-like spacers.

5. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, the pole-like spacers having a maximum area of sectional shape on a plane in parallel with the to-be-provided surface and in contact with the to-be-provided surface, and the area decreasing as it extends from the to-be-provided surface.

6. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, the pole-like spacers having at least one of a semi-spherical shape and a semi-elliptic spherical shape.

7. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, a head end of the pole-like spacers including a flat surface.

8. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further including:

a first striped wiring formed on the at least one substrate;

a second striped wiring formed on the at least one substrate or the other substrate, and extending in a direction that intersects the first striped wiring;

switching elements and pixel electrodes formed corresponding to regions where the second striped wiring and the first striped wiring intersect each other; and

a light-shielding film formed on the at least one substrate or the other substrate at a position corresponding to a position where the first striped wiring and the second striped wiring are formed;

the pole-like spacers being arranged within a width of the light-shielding film.

9. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further including:

a first striped electrode formed on the at least one substrate;

a second striped electrode formed on the other substrate, and extending in a direction that intersects the first striped electrode; and

a light-shielding film formed on the at least one substrate or the other substrate except regions where the first striped electrode and the second striped electrode intersect each other;

the pole-like spacers being arranged within a width of the light-shielding film.

10. An electronic equipment, comprising:

the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

3. An electro-optical device, comprising:

an electro-optical substance;

a pair of substrates holding the electro-optical substance;

pole-like spacers provided on at least one of the pair of substrates on a to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate facing the electro-optical substance; and

an orientation film formed on the to-be-provided surface;

the pole-like spacers having an elliptic shape in cross-section in a direction in parallel with the to-be-provided surface; and

a long diameter of the elliptic shape stretching in a direction in agreement with a direction in which the orientation film is rubbed.