LCD apparatus having insulating layer with increased thickness over and in the same direction as data line with pixel electrodes overlapping top surface thereof to prevent light leakage

• US 7,623,210 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sekiuchi, Toshinobu, Akagi, Makoto, Kaida, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): HEYMAN, JOHN S
• Application Number:
  US11/268,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 349/138, 345/54
• US Class Current: 349/138
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1362 Active matrix addressed cells G02F1/134336, G02F1/134363 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136218 Shield electrodes

Abstract

A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present embodiment has pixel electrodes arranged in a first and a second directions crossed each other; a signal line formed in a lower layer of the pixel electrode and extending in the second direction between the pixel electrodes arranged in the first direction; a scan line formed in a lower layer of the pixel electrode and extending in the first direction; a switching device formed so as to correspond to the pixel electrodes and connected to the signal line, the scan line, and the pixel electrode; and an insulating layer formed between the pixel electrode and a lower layer including the signal line and the scan line, and having a surface step in a region between the pixel electrodes. An edge portion of the pixel electrode is formed to overlap the surface step of the insulating layer.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

a substrate containing switching devices and having a substantially planar major surface;

a signal line extending in a first direction;

a first insulating layer between said signal line and said substrate;

a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in parallel rows extending in said first direction;

a second insulting layer between said signal line and said pixel electrodes and completely encompassing said signal line within a first thickness of said second insulating layer, said second insulating layer having a stripe-shaped surface step in registry with said signal line, said surface step having a top surface at a second thickness facing said pixel electrodes which is parallel to an upper surface of said substrate, said second thickness being greater than said first thickness;

a counter substrate;

a counter electrode between said counter substrate and said pixel electrodes;

a liquid crystal layer between said counter electrode and said pixel electrodes; and

a scan line which extends in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and which is positioned between said substrate and said second insulating layer,

wherein,

edge portions of each pixel electrode conform about and overlap said top surface and side walls of said surface step,

said edge portions extend into said liquid crystal layer; and

each pixel electrode is electrically connected to a respective switching device and each such switching device is connected to the scan line and the signal line.

2. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical shield line between and in registry with said scan line and said signal line.

3. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distance from the signal line to a surface of the second insulating layer facing said pixel electrodes is 400 to 1200 nm.

4. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distance between said signal line and a surface of said second insulating layer facing said pixel electrodes is such that a curvature of an equipotential line resulting from a potential of the signal line is sufficiently suppressed to prevent leakage of light in a vicinity of the overlapping edge portions of the pixel electrodes.

5. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 2 wherein a distance between said shield layer and a surface of said second insulating layer facing said pixel electrodes is such that a curvature of an equipotential line resulting from a potential of the shield layer is sufficiently suppressed to prevent leakage of light in a vicinity of the overlapping edge portions of the pixel electrodes in a horizontal direction.

6. The liquid crystal display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said edges of said pixel electrodes are an contact with said top surface and said side walls of said surface step.