SEL EXHIBIT 2024
`
`INNOLUX CORPORATION V. PATENT OF SEIVHCONDUCTOR ENERGY
`
`LABORATORY CO., LTD.
`
`IPR2013-00066
`
`

`

`United States Patent
`Watanabe et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Apr. 2, 1996
`
`[191
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,504,601
`
`HlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllIlllllllllllllflllllllllllllllll
`U8005504601A
`
`[54] LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPALY APPARATUS
`WITH GAP ADJUSTING LAYERS LOCATED
`BETWEEN THE DISPLAY REGION AND
`DRIVER CIRCUITS
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Yoshihiro Watanabe, Yokohama;
`Hirolri Nakamura, Chigasaki; Takako
`Sugawara, Kawasaki, all of Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Kawasaki,
`Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No.:
`
`196,215
`
`[22] PCI‘ Filed:
`
`Jul. 14, 1993
`
`[86] PCT No.:
`
`PCT/JP93100975
`
`§ 371 Date:
`
`Jul. 13, 1994
`
`§ 102(e) Date: Jul. 13, .1994
`
`[87] PCT Pub. No.: WO94/02880
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Mar. 2, 1994
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Jul. 15,1992
`[JP]
`Japan .......... 4-187908
`
`................. GOZF 1/1343; GOZF 111339
`Int. €1.51...
`[51]
`
`[521 US. Cl. -.,..._._
`359/59;359/so; 359/81
`[58] Field of Search ................................ 359181, 82,83,
`359159, so
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/1975 Leupp etal. 3....................... 359187
`3,863,332
`
`9/1975 Leupp et a1. a.
`m. 359l81
`3,978,580
`4,231,034 10/1980 Bechteler ............................... 359181
`
`4,448,491
`4,653,864
`4,744,639
`4,842,377
`5,181,132
`5,193,021
`
`5/1984 Okubo .................................,.. 359/81
`... 359/81
`3/1987 Baron et al.
`
`5/1988 'I‘suboyama .....
`359/81
`6/1989 Nakanowatari .
`359/81
`
`..
`1/1993 Shindo et al.
`359/81
`
`. ............... 359/81
`3/1993 Kim ........1_
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Japan .
`1267518 10/1989
`Japan ................................... 359/81
`2-220032
`9/1990
`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 Penman Gross
`.
`Assistant Examiner—Walter J. Malinowski
`Attame); Agent, or Firm—Oblon, Spivak, McClelland,
`Maier & Neustadt
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An object is to provide a liquid crystal display apparatus
`with an equal gap between two substrates so as to improve
`display image quality and display contrast To accomplish
`this object, substrate gap adjusting region 33 or substrate gap
`adjusting layers 21, 22, 25, 27, 29, and 31 are formed so that
`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 tom the display
`region to a driver circuit 15. Thus, the gap between the two
`opposed substrates forming liquid crystal cells can be kept
`equal in any position.
`
`8 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
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`
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`1
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996 .
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
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`5,504,601
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`CM! Exhibit 1004
`2
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`Sheet 2 of 10
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`5,504,601
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`Sheet 3 of 10
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`Sheet 4 of 10
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`Sheet 7 of 10
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`CM] Exhibit 1004
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`US. Patent
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`Apr. 2, 1996
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`Sheet 9 of 10
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`5,504,601
`
`1
`LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPALY APPARATUS
`WITH GAP ADJUSTING LAYERS LOCATED
`BETWEEN THE DISPLAY REGION AND
`DRIVER CIRCUITS
`.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display
`apparatus, in particular, to a liquid crystal display apparatus
`having two substrates bonded with an equal gap.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`
`In recent years, so as to speed up image processing of
`liquid crystal display apparatuses and improve display
`image quality, so—called active matrix type liquid crystal
`display apparatuses where switching thin film transistors
`(hereinafter referred to as TFlh) are disposed corresponding
`to display picture elements (pixels) have been developed.
`Switching 'I'FIs that contain amorphous silicon (a-Si) or
`poly silicon (poly—Si) have been widely used for such active
`matrix type liquid crystal display apparatuses.
`.
`‘
`In particular, poly-Si TFI‘s have high mobility and is
`incorporated as driver circuits with switching TFI‘s corre-
`sponding to pixels on the same substrate from the process
`coordination point of view. Thus, it is known that poly-Si is
`a constructional material of TFTs suitable for active matrix
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`15
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`type liquid crystal display apparatuses, which should be
`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. llis a sectional view (taken along line
`B—B' of FIG. 9) chiefly showing scanning lines of a portion
`covered with the sealing member. For simplicity, FIG. 9
`shows only nine pixels in the display region of a liquid
`aystal display panel. In addition to constructional elements
`shown in FIG. 9, storage capacitors Cs, storage capacitor
`lines coupled thereto, and the like are formed on a TFI‘
`substrate For simplicity, these capacitors, lines, and the like
`are omitted
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`As shown in FIG. 9, TFl‘s 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 TFI‘ 503 is connected to a signal
`line 505. A source of each TFI‘ 503 is connected to a pixel
`electrode 507. A gate of each TFI‘ 503 is connected to a
`scanning line 509.
`The signal line 505 extends outside a display region
`through a sealing member 511 and is connected to signal line
`driver circuits 513. The scanning line 509 extends outside
`the display region through the sealing member 511 and is
`connected to scanning line driver circuits 515.
`As shown in FIG. 10, which is a sectional view taken
`along line A—A' of FIG. 9, the layer insulating film 601, the
`signal line 505, and the protecting film 603 are layered on
`the glass substrate 600. The layer insulating film 601 is made '
`of for example 810,, The signal line 505 is formed by
`patterning aAl/Cr film on the glass substrate 600.
`On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, which is a
`sectional view taken along line B—B' of FIG. 9, the scanning.
`line 509 is formed by patterning a poly-silicon film on the
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`glass substrate 600. Since the poly-silicon film contains
`impurities, the resistance of the poly-silicon film is low.
`The switching element array substrate 501 and an
`opposed substrate (not shown) are positioned face to face.
`The opposed substrate has a counter electrode and aligning
`film. The counter electrode is made of H0. The sealing
`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 the display region, and over the
`scanning lines 509 that extend between the scanning line
`driver circuits 515 and the display region. Both of the
`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 gap between the two
`substrates and the sealing member is filled with a liquid
`crystal composition (not shown) that serves as an optical
`modulating layer. In this manner, a liquid crystal display
`apparatus is formed.
`The sealing member 511, which bonds the above— men-
`tioned two substrates, is formed by mixing a spacer with a
`bonding agent. The spacer is made of for example a gap
`controllifig 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 pm and
`a length of 20 pm to 200 pm. The sealing member is printed
`or coated over the above-mentioned region so as to keep the
`gap between the two substrates equal.
`However, at the portion of each signal line 505, since the
`layer insulating film (0.45 tun), the Al/Cr dual layer (0.8
`uml0.05 um) and the protecting film (03 um) are formed,
`the thickness measured fiom the front surface of the sub-
`strate 600 covered with the sealing member 511 of the
`switching element array substrate 501 to the protecting film
`603 (namely, the gap between the substrates) is 1.6 pm. On
`the other hand, at the portion of the scanning line 509, since
`the poly~silicon film (0.4 pm), the layer insulating film (0.45
`pm), and the protecting film (0.3 tun) are formed, the
`thickness measured fiom the front surface of the substrate
`600 covered with the sealing member 511 of the switching
`element may substrate 501 to the protecting film 603 is 1.15
`pm. The diiference of thickness of these portions is 1.6
`um—l.15 pm=0.45 pm. In other words, the difi'erence 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 thiclmesses of the sealing
`member 511 at the two portions results in deviation on a
`screen formed by the gap between the two substrates. Thus,
`a display image on the screen (display region) becomes
`uneven. In particular;
`the substrate gap in the vertical
`direction of the screen does not match the substrate gap in
`the horizontal direction of the screen. Thus, the two sub-
`strates are not positioned in parallel with each other. There-
`fore, an uneven display image takes place.
`As described above, the difi‘erence between the height of
`the sealing member over the scanning lines 509 and the
`height of the sealing member over the signal lines 505
`results from the difi‘erence of layer construction and (filter—
`ence of film thickness. However, to form TFIh, the layer
`construction of the scanning lines 509 should be diiferent
`from the layer construction of the signal lines 505. In other
`words, a layer on which the scanning lines 509 are formed
`is diiferent from a layer on which the signal lines 505 are
`formed. The layer of the seaming lines 509 and the layer of
`the signal lines 505 are insulated by a layer insulating film
`601 or the like. In each 'I‘FI‘ 503, the gate (or gate electrode)
`
`.
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
`12
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`

`5,504,601
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`10
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`is connected to the scanning line 509. The drain (or drain
`electrode) is connected to the signal line 505. The gate and
`drain of the TFI' 503 are formed on difiemnt layers through
`a semiconductor layer. The process conditions for these
`layers are remarkably different from each other regardless of 5 .
`whether the gate electrode is disposed over the semiconduc-
`tor layer (namely, stagger construction) or below the semi-
`conductor layer (namely, antistagger construction). Thus,
`the scanning lines 509 and the signal lines 505 should be
`formed on different layers with difi'erent thicknesses. The
`thickness of the portion of the scanning lines 509 on which
`the sealing member is formed is necessarily difierent from
`the thiclmcss 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 um
`and the end surfaces thereof are sharp. Thus, when the glass
`fibers are positioned over the signal lines 505 and the
`scanning lines 509 and bonded thereto with pressing, the
`glass fibers occasionally damage the signal lines 505 and the
`seaming lines 509.
`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 rmequal gap between two substrates of the panel.
`In addition, difi'erence of electric fields applied to liquid
`crystal composition and difierence of retardation result in
`uneven contrast and uneven colors. To obtain a gray scale
`display image and a high resolution display image, a liquid
`crystal composition that has a quick voltage-response char—
`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
`between the substrates is uneven, the retardation largely
`varies, thereby remarkably lowering the evenness of inten-
`sity of display image, position by position. In particular, in
`the case of a projection type liquid crystal (fisplay apparatus
`with three liquid crystal display devices, such a problem
`becomes important
`For a display image quality of such a liquid crystal
`apparatus, in reality, the deviation of gap between two
`substrates should be decreased to around 0.1 pm 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.
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`30
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`As described above, since the substrate gap at the portion
`where the scanning, lines are covered with the sealing
`member (namely, the thickness measured hour the front
`surface ofthe substrate to the upper surface of the protecting
`film over the scanning lines) difi'ers hour the substrate gap
`at the portion where the signal lines are covered with the
`sealing member (thiclmess measured from the front surface
`of the substrate to the upper surface of the protecting film
`over the signal lines), uneven colors, uneven contrast, and so
`forth take place in a display image, thereby deteriorating
`display image characteristics.
`The present invention has been made to solve such
`problems. An object of the present invenu'on is to provide a
`liquid crystal display apparatus with an equal gap’between
`two substrates so as to improve display image quality and
`display image contrast.
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`
`Aliquid crystal display apparatus according to the present
`invention, comprising a switching element array substrate
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`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
`coupled to the switching elements, a scanning line driver
`circuit coupled to the scanning lines, a signal 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
`bonded to the switching element array substrate with a
`sealing member formed in a sealing region around the
`display region, and an optical modulating layer formed at the
`gap between the switching element array substrate and the
`opposed substrate and sealed with the sealing member,
`wherein a substrate gap adjusting region is disposed on at
`least one region of a first region between the display region
`and the scanning line driver circuit and a second region
`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
`to be equal a second gap between the second region of the
`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
`coupled ,to the switching elements, a scanning line driver
`circuit coupled to the scanning lines, a signal 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
`bonded to the switching element array substrate with a .
`sealing member formed in a sealing region around the
`display region, and an optical modulating layer formed atthe
`gap between the switching element array substrate and the
`opposed substrate and sealed with the sealing member,
`wherein a substrate gap adjusting layer is disposed on at
`least one region of a first region between the display region
`and the scanning line driver circuit and a second region
`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 anay substrate and the opposed substrate
`to be equal a second gap between the second region of the
`switching element array substrate and the opposed substrate.
`The above—mentioned substrate gap adjusting region or
`substrate gap adjusting layer may be any member that can
`keep the substrate gap at the regions that extend from the
`display region to each ofthe scanning line driver circuits and
`that are covered with the sealing member and the subsu’ate
`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 memberto be even. For example, an organic material
`with high insulating characteristics is formed over the
`regions that are covered with the sealing member so that the
`substrate gap becomes equal. The sealing member that also
`serves as abonding agent is thinly coated over the substrate
`so as to bond this substrate to the opposed substrate. Part of
`the circuit constructional elements of the liquid crystal
`driver circuits may be used as the substrate gap adjusting
`region or substrate gap adjusting layer. The lead—out lines of
`the scanning lines that connect the seaming line driver
`circuits and the lead-out lines ofthe signal lines that connect
`the signal line driver circuits may be formed as the substrate
`gap adjusting region or substrate gap adjusting layer. The
`height of the lead-out lines of the scanning lines should be
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`CMI Exhibit 1004
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`5,504,601
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`5
`equal to the height of the lead-out lines of the signal lines.
`The material of the scanning lines may be diflerent from the
`material of the lead—out lines thereof. The material of the
`signal
`lines may be diifereut from the material of the
`lead-out lines thereof. The material of the lead—out lines of
`
`the scanning lines and the signal lines may be difi'erent from
`the material of the scanning lines and the signal lines.
`According to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the
`present invention, the substrate gap adjusting region or the
`substrate gap adjusting layer is formed over at least one of
`the scanning lines and the signal lines. The substrate gap
`adjusting layer may be patterned over the scanning lines and
`signal lines so that the layer is in parallel with or perpen-
`dicular to the lines. The substrate gap adjusting layer may be
`formed in a straight pattern or zigzag pattern. The substrate
`gap adjusting layer may be formed over or below the
`scanning lines and signal
`lines. In any case, when the
`substrate gap adjusting layer can keep the substrate gap at
`the regions extending the display region and each of the
`scanning line driver circuits and the substrate gap at the
`regions extending the display region and each of the signal
`line driver circuits to be equal, any layer sequence may be
`selected and any pattern may be used. And the substrate gap
`‘ adjusting layer may he'formed over the storage capacitor
`lines.
`,
`
`According to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the
`present invention, the substrate gap adjusting region or
`substrate gap adjusting layer is formed along the scanning
`lines and signal lines. For example'the substrate gap adjust-
`ing layer may be column shaped so that it does not interfere
`with the signal lines and scan lines. The substrate gap
`adjusting layer may be patterned in parallel with the scan—
`ning lines and signal lines so as not to connect to the lines.
`In addition to the scanning lines and signal lines, the
`substrate gap adjusting layer may be patterned in parallel
`with for example the storage capacitor lines,
`According to the present invention, at least one of mate—
`rials used for the liquid crystal display apparatus is prefer—
`ably used for the substrate gap adjusting layer.
`According to the present invention, the substrate gap
`adjusting layer that is formed at the regions extending from
`the display region and each of the scanning line driver
`circuits is formed on the same layer and with the same
`material as the signal lines. The substrate gap adjusting layer
`that is formed at the regions extending from the display
`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
`adjusting layer should be selected and formed so that it is not
`short circuited with the scanning lines and signal lines. For
`example, the substrate gap adjusting layer may be formed of
`a layer insulating film as an insulating member used in the
`liquid crystal display apparatus. When the substrate gap
`adjusting layer is formed of a conductive material, it should
`be patterned so that it is not shortcircuited with the scanning
`lines and signal lines.
`According to the liquid crystal display apparatus of the
`present invention,
`the substrate gap adjusting region or
`substrate gap adjusting layer may be electrically insulated
`from the scanning lines and signal lines.
`According to the present invention, the substrate gap at
`the display region is equally adjusted by the substrate gap
`adjusting region or substrate gap adjusting layer. In other
`words, since the substrate gap at the substrate gap adjusting
`regions that extend fiom the display region to each of the
`scanning line driver circuits and from the display region to
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`each of the signal line driver circuits and that are covered
`with the sealing member is equally kept, the entire substrate
`gap ofthe two opposed substrates can be equally held. In this
`case, the substrates should be less skewed and twisted. So
`according to the present invention, since the substrate gap
`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
`According to the present invention, the scanning line
`driver circuits and signal line driver circuits are formed over
`the switching element anay substrate that also has the
`scanning lines and signal lines (namely, the present inven-
`tion is of a so—called driver circuit incorporated type), it can
`be preferably applied to a liquid crystal display apparatus
`where lead-out lines extend from pixel portions in four
`directions. However, the present invention is not limited to
`this construction. For example, in the construction that one
`end of each scanning line is connected to a scanning 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
`other end thereof is open, (thus, the other end is not
`connected to a lead-out line extending from the sealing
`member), substrate gap adjusting regions or substrate gap
`adjusting layers that adjust the substrate gap at the regions .
`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.
`As the switching elements, three—terminal elements such
`as TFI's (Thin Film Transistors), two—terminal elements such
`as MlM (Metal Insulator Metal) elements may be preferably
`used.
`
`As the optical modulating layer, a liquid crystal compo-
`sition, such as TN (Twisted Nematic) type or S'IN (Super
`Twisted Nematic) type, each of which has an optical modu—
`lating function), a polymer dispersing type where a liquid
`crystal material is dispersed in a resin matrix, another
`polymer dispersing type where a capsule shaped liquid
`crystal material is contained in a resin, or the like may be
`preferably used.
`When the substrate gap adjusting region or substrate gap
`adjusting layer that keeps the substrate gap at the driver
`circuits formed at peripheral portions of the substrate and the
`substrate gap at the liquid crystal cell portion covered with
`the sealing member to be equal is formed for the driver
`circuit incorporated liquid crystal display apparatus, the gap
`between the two substrates can be equally kept
`Especially when the substrate gap at the regions of the
`signal lines covered With the sealing member and the
`substrate gap at the regions of the scanning lines covered
`with the sealing member are kept equal, the substrate gap in
`the direction that the scanning lines extend and the substrate
`gap in the direction that the signal lines extend can be kept
`equal over the entire surface of the liquid crystal cells. Thus,
`uneven colors and uneven contrast can be suppressed.
`According to the present inventihn, high quality display
`image can be obtained.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`a liquid crystal display apparatus according to a first
`embodiment;
`‘
`FIGS. 2(a) and 207) are schematic diagrams showing a
`construction inthe vicinity oflead portions 13 ofsignal lines
`5 of the liquid crystal display apparatus according to the first
`embodiment;
`
`CMI Exhibit 1004
`14
`
`

`

`7
`
`.
`
`8
`
`5,504,601
`
`FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic diagrams showing a
`construction in the vicinity of lead portions 17 of scanning
`lines 9 of the liquid crystal display apparatus according to
`the first embodiment;
`FIGS. 4(a) and 4(1)) 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
`a liquid crystal display apparatus according to a second
`embodiment;
`
`FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`‘ a liquid crystal display apparatus according to a third
`embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a construction of
`a liquid crystal display apparatus with dn'ver circuits dis—
`posed on one side thereof according to the third embodi-
`merit;
`
`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 constructionin
`the vicinity of lead portions of scanning lines 509 of the
`conventional liquid crystal display apparatus.
`
`BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
`embodiments of the present invention will be described.
`(First Embodiment)
`FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a TFI‘ array substrate of a
`liquid crystal display apparatus according to the present
`invention. FIG. 2(a) is an enlarged plan view showing a
`construction in the vicinity of signal lines in a region
`extending from a display region and a signal line driver
`circuit. FIG. 20;) is a sectional view taken along line C—C
`of FIG. 2(a). FIG. 3(a) is an enlarged plan view showing a
`construction in the vicinity of scanning lines in a region
`extending from a display region to a scanning line driver
`circuit. FIG. 30:) 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—
`ing to the present invention. FIG. 4(b) is a sectional view
`taken along line E—E‘ of FIG. 4(a). In FIGS. 2 and 3,
`members that are made of the same material are hatched for
`convenience. In the drawings of the individual embodi-
`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
`array substrate is nearly the same as the outer edge line of
`a sealing member. For simplicity,
`the illustration and
`description of the opposed substrate for each embodiment
`will be omitted.
`As shown in FIG. 1, TFI‘s 3 are formed as switching
`elements of a display region on a TFI‘ array substrate 1 of
`the liquid crystal display apparatus are formed. A drain 411
`of each TFI‘ 3 is connected to a signal line 5 through a
`contact hole 417. A source 409 is connected to a pixel
`electrode 7 through a contact hole 415 and a conductive
`patternAgate405isconnectedtoascanningline9.Asignal
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`line 5 that applies a predetermined image signal voltage is
`connected to a signal line driver circuits 11 that drive the
`signal line 5 through lead portions 13 of the signal line 5.
`The scanning line 9 that applies a scanning voltage (scan-
`ning pulse) to the gate 405 of the TFI‘ is connected to a
`scanning line driver circuits 15 through lead portions 17 of
`the scanning line 9. The scanning voltage turns on or ed the
`TFI‘ 3. The signal line 5 is incorporated with the lead
`portions 13 thereof. Substantially,
`the lead portions 13
`extend from the signal line 5. Likewise, the scanning line 9
`is incorporated with the lead portions 17 thereof. Substan—
`tially, the lead portions 17 extend fiorn the scanning line 9.
`Substrate gap adjusting members 21 and 23 are formed at
`regions where the lead portions 13 of the signal lines 5 and
`the lead portions 17 of the scanning lines 9 are covered with
`a sealing member 19, respectively.
`'
`Each substrate gap adjusting layer 21 is made of the same
`film as the lead portion 17 of the scanning line 9 and
`patterned over the lead portion 13 of the signal line 5.
`Likewise, each substrate gap adjusting layer 23 is made of
`the same film as the lead portions 13 of the signal line 5 and
`patterned over the lead portions 17 of the signal line 9.
`As shown in FIG. 2(b), which is a sectional view, a region
`in the vicinity of the lead portion 13 is formed of a glass
`substrate 200, the substrate gap adjusting layer 21, a layer
`insulating film 201, the lead portion 13 of the signal line 5,
`and a protecting film 205. The substrate gap adjusting layer
`21, the layer insulating film 201, the lead portion 13 of the
`signal line 5, and the protecting film 205 are layered over the
`glass substrate 200 in this order: The substrate gap adjusting
`layer 21 is formed of a poly—silicon film that contains
`impurities and has a low resistance. The lead portion 13 of
`the signal line 5 is fanned of anAl/Cr film.
`On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 30)), which is a
`sectional view, a region in the vicinity of the lead portion 17
`of the scanning line 9 is formed of the glass substrate 200,
`the lead portion 17 ofthe scanning line 9, the layer insulating
`film 2011 the substrate gap adjusting layer 23, and the
`protecting film 205. The lead portion 17 of the scanning line
`9, the layer insulating film 201, the substrate gap adjusting
`layer 23, and the protecting film 205 are formed over the
`glass substrate 200 in this order. The lead portion 17 of the
`scanning line 9 is formed of a poly—silicon film that contains
`impurities and has a low resistance. The substrate gap
`adjusting layer 23 is formed of an AllCr film.
`Thus, each of the region in the vicinity of the lead portion
`13 of the signal line 5 and the region in the vicinity of the
`lead portion 17 of the scanning line 9 is formed of the glass
`substrate 200, the low~resistance poly-