United States Patent
`Watanabe et al.
`
`[19]
`
`[54] LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPALY APPARATUS
`WITH GAP ADJUSTING LAYERS LOCATED
`BETWEEN THE DISPLAY REGION AND
`DRIVER CIRCUITS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Yoshihiro Watanabe, Yokohama;
`Hiroki Nakamura, Chigasaki; Takako
`Sugawara, Kawasaki, all of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiha, Kawasaki,
`Japan
`[21] Appl. No. :
`[22] PCT Filed:
`
`Jul. 14, 1993
`
`196, 215
`
`[86] PCT No. :
`
`PCT/JP93/00975
`
`Jul. 13, 1994
`g 371 Date:
`f 102(e) Date: Jul. 13, 1994
`[87] PCT Pub. No. : WO94/02880
`PCT Pub. Date: Mar. 2, 1994
`
`[JP]
`
`Japan
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`. . . 4-187908
`. . .
`Jul. 15, 1992
`[51] Int. Cl.
`G02F 1/1343; G02F I/1339
`. . . . . . . 359/59; 359/80; 359/81
`[52] U. S. Cl.
`
`[58] Field of Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359/81, 82, 83,
`359/59, 80
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U. S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2/1975 Leupp et al. . . .
`3, 863, 332
`9/1976 Leupp et al. . . .
`3, 978, 580
`4, 231, 034 10/1980 Bechteler . . . . . . .
`
`. . . 359/87
`. . . 359/81
`. . . 359/81
`
`IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`US005504601A
`[1 I] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5, 504, 601
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`4, 448, 491
`4, 653, 864
`4, 744, 639
`4, 842, 377
`5, 181, 132
`5, 193, 021
`
`5/1984 Okubo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`3/1987 Baron et al. . . . . . .
`. . . . . . .
`5/1988 Tsuboyama
`. . .
`6/1989 Nakanowatari
`1/1993 Shindo et al. . . . .
`3/1993 Kim .
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`1267518 10/1989
`2-220032
`9/1990
`
`Japan .
`Japan . . .
`
`, . 359/81
`. . . 359/81
`. . . . 359/81
`. . . . 359/81
`. . . 359/81
`359/81
`
`. . . 359/81
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Patent Abstract of Japan, vol. 14, No. 565 (P — 1143), Dec.
`17, 1990, JP 2 242 230, Sep. 26, 1990.
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 34, No. 4B, pp.
`90 — 92, "Flat Cell Structure For Active Matrix LCD", Sep.
`1991.
`Primary Examiner — Anita Pellman Gross
`Assistant Examiner — Walter J. Malinowski
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maier k. Neustadt
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An object is to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus
`two substrates so as to improve
`with an equal gap between
`image quality and display contrast. To accomplish
`display
`this object, substrate gap adjusting region 33 or substrate gap
`layers 21, 22, 25, 27, 29, and 31 are formed so that
`adjusting
`the substrate gap in a region extending from a display region
`having pixel electrodes 7 to a driver circuit 11 is kept equal
`to the substrate gap in a region extending
`from the display
`region to a driver circuit 15. Thus, the gap between the two
`liquid crystal cells can be kept
`opposed substrates
`forming
`equal in any position.
`
`8 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`15
`
`23
`
`17
`
`9
`
`1723
`
`15
`
`21
`
`13
`
`17
`
`18
`
`419
`
`423
`
`19
`
`17
`
`13
`
`21
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 1
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Ayr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
`
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 2
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
`13
`
`21
`
`
`
`QB. m
`
`
`21
`
`'
`2B.
`
`
`
`FIG. 2A
`
`205
`
`
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`201
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`21
`21
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`
`200
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 3
`
`
`
`13
`
`I W
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 3
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
`23
`
`17
`
`FIG.3A
`
`17
`
`3B.
`
`23
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`201
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`200
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 4
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 4
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
`5
`
`III’
`
`423
`
`417
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`417
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`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 5
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 5
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 5 0f 10
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
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`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 6
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 6
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 7
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 7
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 8
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 8
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 9
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 9
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
`Sheet 9 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
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`
`Page 10
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 10
`
`

`

`U. S. Patent
`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`Sheet 10 of 10
`
`5, 504, 601
`5,504,601
`
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`
`Page 11
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 11
`
`
`

`

`5, 504, 601
`
`1
`LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPALY APPARATUS
`WITH GAP ADJUSTING LAYERS LOCATED
`BETWEEN THE DISPLAY REGION AND
`DRIVER CIRCUITS
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`relates to a liquid crystal display
`invention
`The present
`to a liquid crystal display apparatus
`in particular,
`apparatus,
`two substrates bonded with an equal gap.
`having
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`In recent years, so as to speed up image processing of
`improve
`and
`crystal display
`display
`apparatuses
`liquid
`so-called active matrix
`liquid crystal
`image quality,
`type
`thin film transistors
`display apparatuses where switching
`(hereinafter referred to as TFTs) are disposed corresponding
`(pixels) have been developed.
`to display picture elements
`silicon (a-Si) or
`Switching TFTs that contain amorphous
`poly silicon (poly-Si) have been widely used for such active
`matrix type liquid crystal display apparatuses.
`In particular, poly-Si TFTs have high mobility
`is
`and
`incorporated as driver circuits with switching TFTs corre-
`from the process
`to pixels on the same substrate
`sponding
`coordination point of view. Thus, it is known that poly-Si is
`a constructional material of TFTs suitable for active matrix
`liquid crystal display apparatuses, which should be
`type
`small and have precise display characteristics.
`Next, a construction of a switching element array sub-
`strate for use in a conventional
`active matrix
`type liquid
`crystal display apparatus will be described in brief. FIG. 9 is
`a plan view showing a switching element array substrate.
`FIG. 10 is a sectional view (taken along line A — A' of FIG.
`9) chiefly showing signal lines of a portion covered with a
`sealing member. FIG. 11 is a sectional view (taken along line
`B — B' of FIG. 9) chiefly showing scanning
`lines of a portion
`the sealing member. For simplicity, FIG. 9
`covered with
`region of a liquid
`shows only nine pixels
`in the display
`crystal display panel. In addition to constructional elements
`in FIG. 9, storage capacitors Cs, storage capacitor
`shown
`thereto, and the like are formed on a TFT
`lines coupled
`substrate. For simplicity,
`these capacitors, lines, and the like
`are omitted.
`As shown in FIG. 9, TFTs 503 that are used as switching
`elements of a pixel portion each are formed on a switching
`element array substrate 501 of the liquid crystal display
`apparatus. A drain of each TFT 503 is connected to a signal
`line 505. A source of each TFT 503 is connected to a pixel
`electrode 507. A gate of each TFT 503 is connected
`to a
`line 509.
`scanning
`line 505 extends outside a display
`region
`The signal
`through a sealing member 511 and is connected to signal line
`driver circuits 513. The scanning
`line 509 extends outside
`the sealing member 511 and is
`the display region through
`line driver circuits 515.
`connected to scanning
`in FIG. 10, which is a sectional view taken
`As shown
`along line A — A' of FIG. 9, the layer insulating
`film 601, the
`film 603 are layered on
`signal line 505, and the protecting
`film 601 is made
`the glass substrate 600. The layer insulating
`of for example SiO . The signal
`line 505 is formed by
`patterning a AVCr film on the glass substrate 600.
`in FIG. 11, which
`is a
`On the other hand, as shown
`sectional view taken along line B — B' of FIG. 9, the scanning
`line 509 is formed by patterning a poly-silicon
`film on the
`
`glass substrate 600. Since the poly-silicon
`film contains
`the resistance of the poly-silicon
`film is low.
`impurities,
`substrate 501 and an
`The switching
`element
`array
`(not shown) are positioned face to face.
`opposed substrate
`The opposed substrate has a counter electrode and aligning
`is made of ITO. The sealing
`film. The counter electrode
`member (that serves both as a sealing member and a bonding
`agent) 511 is printed or coated with a predetermined width
`over the signal lines 505 that extend between the signal line
`driver circuits 513 and
`region, and over the
`the display
`lines 509 that extend between
`line
`the scanning
`scanning
`driver circuits 515 and
`region. Both of the
`the display
`substrates are facing each other with a gap and bonded with
`pressing so that the aligning directions of the aligning
`films
`of the substrates are perpendicular
`to each other. A cavity
`liquid crystal cell defined by
`the two
`the gap between
`is filled with a liquid
`and the sealing member
`substrates
`that serves as an optical
`crystal composition
`(not shown)
`layer. In this manner, a liquid crystal display
`modulating
`is formed.
`apparatus
`The sealing member 511, which bonds the above- men-
`is formed by mixing a spacer with a
`tioned two substrates,
`bonding agent. The spacer is made of for example a gap
`controlling member with the same diameter and length as
`the gap to be kept for substrates. For example, the spacer is
`made of needle-like glass fibers with a diameter of 5 firn and
`a length of 20 Nm to 200 pm. The sealing member is printed
`region so as to keep the
`or coated over the above-mentioned
`the two substrates equal.
`gap between
`However, at the portion of each signal line 505, since the
`layer (0. 8
`film (0. 45 pm), the AVCr dual
`layer insulating
`film (0. 3 firn) are formed,
`firn/0. 05 pm) and the protecting
`from the front surface of the sub-
`the thickness measured
`the sealing member 511 of the
`strate 600 covered with
`switching element array substrate 501 to the protecting film
`is 1. 6 pm. On
`603 (namely,
`the gap between the substrates)
`the other hand, at the portion of the scanning
`line 509, since
`film (0. 45
`the poly-silicon film (0. 4 pm), the layer insulating
`film (0. 3 firn) are formed,
`the
`the protecting
`pm), and
`from the front surface of the substrate
`thickness measured
`600 covered with the sealing member 511 of the switching
`element array substrate 501 to the protecting film 603 is 1. 15
`is 1. 6
`pm. The difference of thickness of these portions
`firn — 1. 15 11m=0. 45 pm. In other words, the difference of gaps
`of the substrates held by the sealing member 511 is approxi-
`mately as many as 10% of 5 pm that is the gap between the
`substrates. The difference of thicknesses of the sealing
`member 511 at the two portions
`in deviation on a
`results
`screen formed by the gap between
`the two substrates. Thus,
`region) becomes
`a display
`image on the screen (display
`in
`the vertical
`the substrate
`In particular,
`uneven.
`gap
`direction of the screen does not match the substrate gap in
`the horizontal direction of the screen. Thus, the two sub-
`in parallel with each other. There-
`strates are not positioned
`image takes place.
`fore, an uneven display
`the height of
`As described above, the difference between
`lines 509 and the
`the sealing member over the scanning
`lines 505
`height of the sealing member over the signal
`results from the difference of layer construction and differ-
`ence of film thickness. However,
`to form TFTs, the layer
`lines 509 should be different
`construction of the scanning
`from the layer construction of the signal lines 505. In other
`lines 509 are formed
`words, a layer on which the scanning
`lines 505 are
`is different from a layer on v'hich the signal
`lines 509 and the layer of
`formed. The layer of the scanning
`the signal lines 505 are insulated by a layer insulating
`film
`601 or the like. In each TFT 503, the gate (or gate electrode)
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 12
`
`

`

`3
`line 509. The drain (or drain
`is connected
`to the scanning
`electrode) is connected to the signal line 505. The gate and
`drain of the TFT 503 are formed on different layers through
`layer. The process conditions
`for these
`a semiconductor
`layers are remarkably different from each other regardless of
`whether the gate electrode is disposed over the semiconduc-
`tor layer (namely, stagger construction) or below the semi-
`conductor
`construction). Thus,
`layer (namely, antistagger
`lines 509 and the signal
`lines 505 should be
`the scanning
`formed on different
`thicknesses. The
`layers with difterent
`thickness of the portion of the scanning
`lines 509 on which
`is formed is necessarily different from
`the sealing member
`the thickness of the portion of the signal lines 505 on which
`the sealing member is formed. In addition, the thicknesses of
`these portions vary in their fabrication processes.
`The length of the glass fibers is around 20 pm to 200 pm
`and the end surfaces thereof are sharp. Thus, when the glass
`lines 505 and
`fibers are positioned over
`the signal
`the
`lines 509 and bonded
`the
`thereto with pressing,
`scanning
`glass fibers occasionally damage the signal lines 505 and the
`lines 509.
`scanning
`To obtain a high quality display image, color and contrast
`should be improved. The uneven colors take place due to
`coherence of light
`through
`liquid crystal display panel
`because of unequal gap between two substrates of the panel.
`In addition, difference of electric fields applied
`to liquid
`crystal composition and difference of retardation
`result in
`uneven contrast and uneven colors. To obtain a gray scale
`image and a high resolution display image, a liquid
`display
`that has a quick voltage-response
`char-
`crystal composition
`acteristic is used. The light transmittivity of a liquid crystal
`composition with a quick voltage-response
`characteristic
`largely varies as the retardation varies. Thus, when the gap
`is uneven,
`the substrates
`between
`the retardation
`largely
`the evenness of inten-
`varies, thereby remarkably
`lowering
`sity of display
`image, position by position. In particular,
`in
`the case of a projection type liquid crystal display apparatus
`with three liquid crystal display devices, such a problem
`becomes important.
`image quality of such a liquid crystal
`For a display
`the deviation of gap between
`in reality,
`two
`apparatus,
`substrates should be decreased to around 0. 1 Nm or less. To
`accomplish high quality display image, factors that cause an
`image to be uneven other than errors in fabrication process
`should be removed.
`As described above, since the substrate gap at the portion
`the scanning,
`lines are covered with
`the sealing
`where
`the thickness measured
`from the front
`member
`(namely,
`surface of the substrate to the upper surface of the protecting
`film over the scanning
`lines) difl'ers from the substrate gap
`the signal
`at the portion where
`lines are covered with the
`sealing member (thickness measured from the front surface
`to the upper surface of the protecting
`of the substrate
`film
`over the signal lines), uneven colors, uneven contrast, and so
`forth take place in a display
`thereby deteriorating
`image,
`image characteristics.
`display
`The present
`to solve such
`has been made
`invention
`problems. An object of the present invention
`is to provide a
`liquid crystal display apparatus with an equal gap between
`two substrates so as to improve display
`image quality and
`image contrast.
`display
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`
`A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present
`comprising a switching element array substrate
`invention,
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`having switching elements, scanning
`lines, signal lines, and
`pixel electrodes, the scanning lines and the signal lines being
`coupled to the switching elements,
`the pixel elements being
`to the switching elements, a scanning
`coupled
`line driver
`lines, a signal
`circuit coupled
`to the scanning
`line driver
`circuit coupled
`to the signal
`lines, an opposed substrate
`having a counter electrode,
`the counter electrode being
`to the pixel electrodes with a gap so in
`arranged opposite
`order to define a display region, the opposed substrate being
`to the switching
`substrate with a
`bonded
`element array
`in a sealing
`sealing member
`formed
`region around
`the
`display region, and an optical modulating
`layer formed at the
`gap between
`the switching element array substrate and the
`and sealed with
`the sealing member,
`substrate
`opposed
`wherein a substrate gap adjusting
`region is disposed on at
`least one region of a first region between the display region
`line driver circuit and a second region
`and the scanning
`between the display region and the signal line driver circuit
`so as to adjust a first gap between
`the first region of the
`switching element array substrate and the opposed substrate
`the second region of the
`to be equal a second gap between
`switching element array substrate and the opposed substrate.
`A liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present
`invention, comprising a switching element array substrate
`having switching elements, scanning
`lines, signal lines, and
`pixel electrodes, the scanning lines and the signal lines being
`coupled to the switching elements,
`the pixel elements being
`to the switching elements, a scanning
`coupled
`line driver
`lines, a signal
`circuit coupled
`to the scanning
`line driver
`circuit coupled
`to the signal
`lines, an opposed substrate
`having a counter electrode,
`the counter electrode being
`arranged opposite to the pixel electrodes with a gap so in
`order to define a display region, the opposed substrate being
`to the switching
`substrate with a
`bonded
`element array
`in a sealing
`formed
`sealing member
`the
`region around
`display region, and an optical modulating
`layer formed at the
`gap between
`the switching element array substrate and the
`and sealed with
`the sealing member,
`substrate
`opposed
`wherein a substrate gap adjusting
`layer is disposed on at
`least one region of a first region between
`the display region
`line driver circuit and a second region
`and the scanning
`between
`the display region and the signal line driver circuit
`the first region of the
`so as to adjust a first gap between
`switching element array substrate and the opposed substrate
`the second region of the
`to be equal a second gap between
`switching element array substrate and the opposed substrate.
`The above-mentioned
`region or
`substrate gap adjusting
`layer may be any member
`substrate gap adjusting
`that can
`keep the substrate gap at the regions that extend from the
`display region to each of the scanning line driver circuits and
`that are covered with the sealing member and the substrate
`gap at the regions that extend from the display region to each
`of the signal line driver circuits and that are covered with the
`sealing member to be even. For example, an organic material
`is formed over
`characteristics
`with high
`the
`insulating
`regions that are covered with the sealing member so that the
`substrate gap becomes equal. The sealing member
`that also
`serves as a bonding agent is thinly coated over the substrate
`so as to bond this substrate to the opposed substrate. Part of
`elements of the
`the circuit constructional
`liquid crystal
`driver circuits may be used as the substrate gap adjusting
`layer. The lead-out lines of
`region or substrate gap adjusting
`that connect
`the scanning
`lines
`line driver
`the scanning
`circuits and the lead-out lines of the signal lines that connect
`the signal line driver circuits may be formed as the substrate
`region or substrate gap adjus1ing
`layer. The
`gap adjusting
`height of the lead-out lines of the scanning
`lines should be
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 13
`
`

`

`5, 504, 601
`
`equal to the height of the lead-out lines of the signal lines.
`The material of the scanning
`lines may be different from the
`material of the lead-out
`lines thereof. The material of the
`the material of the
`lines may be different
`from
`signal
`lines thereof. The material of the lead-out lines of
`lead-out
`lines and the signal lines may be different from
`the scanning
`the material of the scanning
`lines and the signal lines.
`to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the
`According
`region or the
`the substrate gap adjusting
`present invention,
`layer is formed over at least one of
`substrate gap adjusting
`lines. The substrate gap
`lines and the signal
`the scanning
`layer may be patterned over the scanning lines and
`adjusting
`lines so that the layer is in parallel with or perpen-
`signal
`dicular to the lines. The substrate gap adjusting
`layer may be
`formed in a straight pattern or zigzag pattern. The substrate
`layer may be formed over or below
`the
`gap adjusting
`lines. In any case, when
`the
`lines and signal
`scanning
`layer can keep the substrate gap at
`substrate gap adjusting
`region and each of the
`the display
`the regions extending
`line driver circuits and the substrate gap at the
`scanning
`the display region and each of the signal
`regions extending
`line driver circuits to be equal, any layer sequence may be
`selected and any pattern may be used. And the substrate gap
`layer may be formed over the storage capacitor
`adjusting
`lines.
`to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the
`According
`region or
`the substrate gap adjusting
`invention,
`present
`layer is formed along the scanning
`substrate gap adjusting
`lines and signal lines. For example, the substrate gap adjust-
`ing layer may be column shaped so that it does not interfere
`lines and scan lines. The substrate gap
`the signal
`with
`in parallel with the scan-
`layer may be patterned
`adjusting
`ning lines and signal lines so as not to connect to the lines.
`to the scanning
`the
`In addition
`lines,
`lines and signal
`layer may be patterned
`in parallel
`substrate gap adjusting
`with for example
`the storage capacitor lines.
`According to the present invention, at least one of mate-
`is prefer-
`rials used for the liquid crystal display apparatus
`ably used for the substrate gap adjusting
`layer.
`the substrate gap
`to the present
`According
`invention,
`layer that is formed at the regions extending from
`adjusting
`region and each of the scanning
`line driver
`the display
`is formed on the same layer and with
`the same
`circuits
`material as the signal lines. The substrate gap adjusting
`layer
`from the display
`that is formed at the regions extending
`region and each of the signal line driver circuits is formed on
`the same layer and with the same material as the scanning
`lines. In this case, material and shape of the substrate gap
`layer should be selected and formed so that it is not
`adjusting
`lines and signal lines. For
`short circuited with the scanning
`layer may be formed of
`example, the substrate gap adjusting
`a layer insulating
`film as an insulating member used in the
`liquid crystal display apparatus. When
`the substrate gap
`layer is formed of a conductive material, it should
`adjusting
`be patterned so that it is not shortcircuited with the scanning
`lines and signal lines.
`to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the
`According
`region or
`the substrate gap adjusting
`invention,
`present
`layer may be electrically
`insulated
`substrate gap adjusting
`lines and signal lines.
`from the scanning
`to the present
`the substrate gap at
`invention,
`According
`the display region is equally adjusted by the substrate gap
`layer. In other
`region or substrate gap adjusting
`adjusting
`words, since the substrate gap at the substrate gap adjusting
`regions that extend from the display region to each of the
`line driver circuits and from the display region to
`scanning
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`each of the signal line driver circuits and that are covered
`with the sealing member is equally kept, the entire substrate
`gap of the two opposed substrates can be equally held. In this
`should be less skewed and twisted. So
`case, the substrates
`since the substrate gap
`according
`to the present
`invention,
`holding member (so-called spacer) that has been used in the
`display regions of conventional apparatuses can be omitted,
`and the image quality can be preferably
`improved.
`to the present
`line
`the scanning
`According
`invention,
`driver circuits and signal line driver circuits are formed over
`that also has
`the
`element
`substrate
`the switching
`array
`inven-
`the present
`lines and signal lines (namely,
`scanning
`tion is of a so-called driver circuit incorporated
`type), it can
`to a liquid crystal display apparatus
`be preferably applied
`in four
`lead-out
`lines extend from pixel portions
`where
`is not limited to
`directions. However,
`the present invention
`this construction. For example,
`that one
`in the construction
`end of each scanning
`to a scanning
`line is connected
`line
`driver circuit, the other end thereof is open, one end of each
`signal line is connected to a signal line driver circuit, and the
`is not
`thereof
`the other end
`is open,
`other end
`(thus,
`from the sealing
`to a lead-out
`connected
`line extending
`regions or substrate gap
`substrate gap adjusting
`member),
`layers that adjust the substrate gap at the regions
`adjusting
`covered with the sealing member on the other side may be
`formed so as to keep the thickness of the substrate gap to be
`equal over the entire regions of the sealing member.
`elements such
`three-terminal
`As the switching elements,
`as TFTs (Thin Film Transistors),
`two-terminal elements such
`as MIM (Metal Insulator Metal) elements may be preferably
`used.
`layer, a liquid crystal compo-
`As the optical modulating
`type or STN (Super
`sition, such as TN (Twisted Nematic)
`Twisted Nematic) type, each of which has an optical modu-
`lating function), a polymer dispersing
`type where a liquid
`in a resin matrix, another
`is dispersed
`crystal material
`type where a capsule
`liquid
`shaped
`polymer dispersing
`in a resin, or the like may be
`is contained
`crystal material
`preferably used.
`When the substrate gap adjusting region or substrate gap
`layer that keeps the substrate gap at the driver
`adjusting
`circuits formed at peripheral portions of the substrate and the
`substrate gap at the liquid crystal cell portion covered with
`to be equal
`is formed for the driver
`the sealing member
`the gap
`circuit incorporated
`liquid crystal display apparatus,
`the two substrates can be equally kept.
`between
`the substrate gap at the regions of the
`Especially when
`the
`lines covered With
`the sealing member
`and
`signal
`substrate gap at the regions of the scanning
`lines covered
`with the sealing member are kept equal, the substrate gap in
`lines extend and the substrate
`the direction that the scanning
`that the signal lines extend can be kept
`gap in the direction
`equal over the entire surface of the liquid crystal cells. Thus,
`contrast can be suppressed.
`colors and uneven
`uneven
`According
`invention, high quality display
`to the present
`image can be obtained.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`FIG. I is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`to a first
`according
`a liquid
`crystal display
`apparatus
`embodiment;
`FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic diagrams
`showing a
`in the vicinity of lead portions 13 of signal lines
`construction
`5 of the liquid crystal display apparatus according to the first
`embodiment;
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`Page 14
`
`

`

`5, 504, 601
`
`FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic diagrams
`showing a
`in the vicinity of lead portions 17 of scanning
`construction
`lines 9 of the liquid crystal display apparatus according
`to
`the first embodiment;
`FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are schematic diagrams
`showing a
`construction of a pixel portion of the liquid crystal display
`apparatus according to the first embodiment;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`to a second
`a liquid crystal display apparatus
`according
`embodiment;
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`to a third
`a liquid crystal display
`according
`apparatus
`embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`a liquid crystal display apparatus with driver circuits dis-
`posed on one side thereof according
`to the third embodi-
`ment;
`FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are schematic diagrams
`showing a
`construction of a liquid crystal display apparatus according
`to a fourth embodiment;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`a conventional
`liquid crystal display apparatus;
`FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a construction
`in the
`vicinity of lead portions of signal . lines 505 of the conven-
`tional liquid crystal display apparatus; and
`FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a construction
`in
`the vicinity of lead portions of scanning
`lines 509 of the
`conventional
`liquid crystal display apparatus.
`
`BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`reference
`to the accompanying
`Next, with
`drawings,
`embodiments of the present invention will be described.
`(First Embodiment)
`FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a TFT array substrate of a
`to the present
`according
`liquid crystal display
`apparatus
`invention. FIG. 2(a) is an enlarged plan view showing a
`in the vicinity of signal
`in a region
`construction
`lines
`from a display
`region and a signal
`line driver
`extending
`circuit. FIG. 2(b) is a sectional view taken along line C-C'
`of FIG. 2(a). FIG. 3(a) is an enlarged plan view showing a
`in the vicinity of scanning
`lines in a region
`construction
`from a display
`region to a scanning
`line driver
`extending
`circuit. FIG. 3(b) is a sectional view taken along line D — D'
`of FIG. 3(a). FIG. 4(a) is an enlarged plan view showing a
`pixel portion of the liquid crystal display apparatus accord-
`invention. FIG. 4(b) is a sectional view
`ing to the present
`line E — E' of FIG. 4(a). In FIGS. 2 and 3,
`taken along
`that are made of the same material are hatched for
`members
`In the drawings of the individual
`embodi-
`convenience.
`ments, for simplicity of description, a liquid crystal display
`apparatus providing only nine pixels are shown. The edge
`line of an opposed substrate positioned opposite
`to a TFT
`the same as the outer edge line of
`is nearly
`array substrate
`a sealing member. For simplicity,
`illustration
`the
`and
`description of the opposed substrate
`for each embodiment
`will be omitted.
`in FIG. 1, TFTs 3 are formed as switching
`As shown
`elements of a display region on a TFT array substrate 1 of
`the liquid crystal display apparatus are formed. A drain 411
`of each TFT 3 is connected
`line 5 through a
`to a signal
`contact hole 417. A source 409 is connected
`to a pixel
`electrode 7 through a contact hole 415 and a conductive
`pattern. A gate 405 is connected to a scanning line 9. A signal
`
`line 5 that applies a predetermined
`image signal voltage is
`line driver circuits 11 that drive the
`to a signal
`connected
`signal line 5 through
`lead portions 13 of the signal line 5.
`line 9 that applies a scanning voltage (scan-
`The scanning
`to the gate 405 of the TFT is connected
`to a
`ning pulse)
`line driver circuits 15 through
`lead portions 17 of
`scanning
`line 9. The scanning voltage turns on or off the
`the scanning
`TFT 3. The signal
`line 5 is incorp