Electro-optical device and electronic equipment

• US 7,206,113 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Adachi, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Jack
• Application Number:
  US10/609,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 359/237, 359/245, 359252-254, 359265-275, 359/259, 359/315
• US Class Current: 359/245
• 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 substrate of the pair of substrates, on a to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate facing the electro-optical substance, each pole-like spacer having an elongated sectional shape including a rounded head end portion and rear end portion in a direction of elongation, and at roots thereof, a slope portion with a surface connecting to the to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate.

2. The electro-optical device according to claim 1, further including an orientation film formed on the to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate, 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. An electronic equipment, comprising:

the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

10. 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 substrate of the pair of substrates, on a to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate facing the electro-optical substance, each pole-like spacer having an elliptic-shaped cross-section including a rounded head end portion and rear end portion in a direction of a major axis of the elliptic-shaped cross-section, and at roots thereof, a slope portion with a surface connecting to the to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate; and

an orientation film formed on the to-be-provided surface of the at least one substrate, the orientation film being rubbed in the direction of the major axis of the elliptic-shaped cross-section.

11. An electro-optical device comprising:

a TFT array substrate;

a counter substrate;

pixel electrodes formed on the TFT array substrate;

a counter electrode formed on the counter substrate;

an electro-optical substance held between the TFT array substrate and the counter substrate; and

a light-shielding film formed between the counter substrate and the counter electrode, the light-shielding film including pole-like spacers arranged along gaps among the pixel electrodes.