WO2012066985A1

WO2012066985A1 - Liquid crystal display device

Info

Publication number: WO2012066985A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/075745
Authority: WO
Inventors: 山岸　慎治
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2010-11-15
Filing date: 2011-11-08
Publication date: 2012-05-24

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device with an integrated touch sensor, wherein variation in the pressing load until sensing within the display screen is reduced. A touch panel sensor is built into a liquid crystal panel (1) in the liquid crystal display device. When a plurality of spacers (27) arranged between two substrates that sandwich a liquid crystal layer (52) are viewed in a plan, said plurality of spacers (27) are arranged and configured such that the occupancy rate of spacers (27) within an area (N) adjacent to a seal material, that corresponds to 10%-20% of an area adjacent to the seal material (53) is less than the occupancy rate of spacers (27) within a central area (C) that is surrounded by the area (N) adjacent to the seal material, out of an entire image display area defined by surrounding the liquid crystal layer in the seal material (53).

Description

Liquid crystal display

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device equipped with a touch panel function.

When providing a touch sensor function such as a resistive film type to a liquid crystal display element such as a liquid crystal display screen, it has been necessary to add a touch sensor unit to the liquid crystal display element externally. However, due to the external attachment, the entire liquid crystal display element becomes thicker and the weight also increases, so that electronic devices that are required to be small and light, such as notebook personal computers and mobile phone terminals, which are becoming widespread in recent years. There was a hindrance to the installation.

Therefore, in order to realize a reduction in size and weight, research on a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal display function and a touch sensor function in the device is being actively conducted. That is, a touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display device in which a touch sensor unit is built in the element has attracted attention. The “touch sensor function” refers to a function that allows various functions to be freely invoked by simply touching the screen with a pen or a finger (contact object).

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display element disclosed in Patent Document 1. In FIG. The touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display element of FIG. 9 is adjacent to the first glass substrate 117 and the second substrate 114 facing each other, the liquid crystal layer 120 sandwiched between both substrates, and the liquid crystal layer 120 of the first glass substrate 117. Display electrode 115 for image display provided on at least one of the second substrate 114 and the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 120 of the second substrate 114; the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 120 of the first glass substrate 117;

Touch electrodes

124 and 127 for detecting touch locations provided on at least one side of the second substrate 117 adjacent to the liquid crystal layer 120, and columnar spacers 132 for holding the first glass substrate 117 and the second substrate 114. And. In FIG. 9, a convex member 131 is formed on the pixel electrode drive wiring 126, and a first touch electrode 127 is further formed thereon. By pressing the substrate surface, the first touch electrode 127 and the second touch electrode 124 are brought into conduction, and the touch location can be detected. Further, since it is necessary to press the substrate surface in this way, the columnar spacer 132 for keeping the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 120 constant is provided in the touch sensor integrated liquid crystal display element of FIG. 9 with the first glass substrate 37 and the first glass substrate 37. The two substrates 14 are uniformly arranged at almost equal intervals.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the liquid crystal panel disclosed in Patent Document 2. The liquid crystal panel 201 is also a liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch panel sensor as described above, and is an active matrix type liquid crystal display element using a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element. The liquid crystal panel 201 includes a substantially rectangular plate array substrate 202 as an active matrix substrate. The array substrate 202 is a thin film transistor substrate (TFT substrate), and pixel electrodes 206 are provided in a matrix on the screen portion 204 of the array substrate 202. In addition, elongated cylindrical spacers 227 that maintain a distance between the array substrate 202 and the counter substrate 241 are disposed at positions facing the blue filter portions 246 of the color filter layer 243 of the counter substrate 241 on the pixel electrode 206. Is provided. These spacers 227 are formed of a photosensitive acrylic resin, and are provided for each pixel 205 located in a predetermined number, for example, two pixel 205 portions in the vertical and horizontal directions of the screen portion 204. Is provided. That is, the spacers 227 are provided on the screen portion 204 of the array substrate 202 so as to be spaced apart at equal intervals. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the liquid crystal panel 201 is provided with a ridge touch sensor 230 having a sensor function. The protruding electrode 231 has a height dimension smaller than the height dimension of the spacer 227. Further, the ridge electrode 231 is switched by a change in electric capacity based on a change in the distance between the ridge electrode 231 and the counter electrode 247 of the counter substrate 241. In other words, the touch sensor 230 includes the protruding electrode 231 and the counter electrode 247, and the rear surface side of the counter substrate 241 is pushed and deformed by a finger or the like, so that the counter electrode 247 and the protrusion of the counter substrate 241 are deformed. A sensor function that is turned on by electrical contact with the electrode 231 is exhibited. The protruding electrodes 231 are provided at the peripheral edge in the pixel 205 on the screen portion 204 of the array substrate 202. That is, these protruding electrodes 231 are provided on the thin film transistor 208 in a plan view in the pixel 205. The protruding electrodes 231 are spaced at equal intervals along the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the screen portion 204 of the array substrate 202. Further, the peripheral portion between the array substrate 202 and the counter substrate 241 is a sealing material as a liquid crystal sealing portion that seals the liquid crystal layer 252 in the liquid crystal sealing region D between the array substrate 202 and the counter substrate 241. 253 is attached and sealed. The sealing material 253 is bonded between the array substrate 202 and the counter substrate 241 to seal between the array substrate 202 and the counter substrate 241. The sealing material 253 is provided so as to cover the periphery of the screen portion 204 of the array substrate 202, and a liquid crystal sealing region D is formed between the screen portion 204 of the array substrate 202 and the counter substrate 241. . The sealing material 253 is provided between the outer portion of the frame portion 250 of the counter substrate 241 and the portion of the array substrate 202 outside the screen portion 204 of the glass substrate 203.

Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2001-75074 A (published March 23, 2001)” Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2007-52368 A” (published March 1, 2007)

However, there is a problem that neither the configuration of FIG. 9 nor the configuration of FIG.

Specifically, in both the configuration of FIG. 9 and the configuration of FIG. 10, spacers for keeping the thickness of the liquid crystal layer constant are arranged at equal intervals, and the liquid crystal is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The seal material is arranged on the outer periphery of the panel. Therefore, when a pressing load is applied in the vicinity of the sealing material for the touch sensor, the substrate is difficult to bend due to the influence of the sealing material, and the pressing load until sensing is increased. On the other hand, the central portion of the liquid crystal panel away from the sealing material is not affected by the sealing material, so that the substrate is easily bent and the pressing load for sensing is reduced.

This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the liquid crystal panel. A display portion having a liquid crystal layer between the substrates is in the center, and the outer periphery thereof is a black matrix portion. Actually, a sealing material 300 for sealing the liquid crystal layer between the substrates is formed in the region of the black matrix portion 302 on the outer periphery of the display portion 301. In the configuration of such a liquid crystal panel, as shown in FIG. 11, in the case of the pressing portion A located in the center of the display portion 301, the pressing portions B and C positioned in the case of the sealing material 300, and the sealing material 300. Assuming that sensing is performed by pressing the pressing portion D positioned at the corner of the display unit 301, the magnitude relationship of the pressing load necessary for sensing is: pressing portion D> pressing portion B≈pressing portion C. > Pressing part A.

For this reason, there is a problem that the user who presses has a sense of incongruity in using the touch panel due to variations in the pressing load sensed between the vicinity of the sealing material and the panel central portion (display portion central portion) separated from the sealing material. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device capable of suppressing variations in pressing load until sensing within the display surface.

That is, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is to solve the above problems,
Opposing first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, a side of the first substrate adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and an adjacent liquid crystal layer of the second substrate Provided on at least one of the display electrode for image display provided on at least one side of the image forming side, the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate, and the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate A touch electrode for detecting a touch location, a columnar spacer for holding the first substrate and the second substrate, and an end portion of the first substrate and the second substrate so as to surround the liquid crystal layer. A liquid crystal display device having a touch sensor function, comprising a sealing material that seals a liquid crystal layer and defines an image display area;
A plurality of columnar spacers are provided across the surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate,
When the plurality of columnar spacers are viewed from the surface of the first substrate or the second substrate in a plan view, 10% to 20% of the entire image display region surrounded by the sealant is adjacent to the sealant The occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the adjacent region of the sealing material corresponding to is characterized by being smaller than the occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the central region, which is a region surrounded by the adjacent region of the sealing material.

According to the above configuration, the columnar spacers disposed in the region (sealing material adjacent region) with respect to the region of 10 to 20% adjacent to the sealing material in the entire region surrounded by the sealing material. Occupancy rate is the occupancy of the columnar spacers disposed in the remaining area (corresponding to 80 to 90% of the entire area) of the entire area excluding the adjacent region of the sealing material. It is configured smaller than the rate. Therefore, if only the relationship between the first substrate and the second substrate and the columnar spacer is considered, the 10% to 20% region realizes a touch panel function than the remaining (80 to 90%) region. When the surface of one substrate is pressed, the substrate is easily bent. Therefore, by providing such a region in the vicinity of the seal material, the ease of bending of the seal material adjacent region is reduced by the seal material, and as a result, the ease of bending of the seal material adjacent region and the remaining region is reduced. The thickness can be made uniform.

Thereby, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device in which variation in pressing load until sensing in the display surface is suppressed.

The present invention also includes a display device including a liquid crystal display device having the above-described configuration.

Other objects, features, and superior points of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description. The advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is as described above.
Opposing first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, a side of the first substrate adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and an adjacent liquid crystal layer of the second substrate Provided on at least one of the display electrode for image display provided on at least one side of the image forming side, the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate, and the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate A touch electrode for detecting a touch location, a columnar spacer for holding the first substrate and the second substrate, and an end portion of the first substrate and the second substrate so as to surround the liquid crystal layer. A liquid crystal display device having a touch sensor function, comprising a sealing material that seals a liquid crystal layer and defines an image display area;
A plurality of columnar spacers are provided across the surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate,
When the plurality of columnar spacers are viewed from the surface of the first substrate or the second substrate in a plan view, 10% to 20% of the entire image display region surrounded by the sealant is adjacent to the sealant The occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the adjacent region of the sealing material corresponding to is characterized by being smaller than the occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the central region, which is a region surrounded by the adjacent region of the sealing material.

It is sectional drawing of the liquid crystal panel provided in one Embodiment of the liquid crystal display device based on this invention. 1 is an explanatory circuit configuration diagram of an embodiment of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention. It is a top view of the liquid crystal panel provided in one Embodiment of the liquid crystal display device based on this invention. It is a perspective view of the liquid crystal panel provided in one Embodiment of the liquid crystal display device based on this invention. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the display apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view of the liquid crystal panel provided in other embodiment of the liquid crystal display device based on this invention. It is a graph which shows the result of the sensing reaction load measured using one Example of the liquid crystal panel provided in one Embodiment of the liquid crystal display device which concerns on this invention. It is a graph which shows the result of the sensing reaction load measured using the other Example of the liquid crystal panel provided in one Embodiment of the liquid crystal display device based on this invention. It is a figure which shows a prior art. It is a figure which shows a prior art. It is a figure which shows a prior art.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can be applied as a touch sensor-integrated liquid crystal display device having both a touch sensor function and a display function, and is further mounted in any display device including the liquid crystal display device. be able to. An example of the device is a portable terminal, and more specifically, a mobile phone terminal and a small electronic device such as a notebook personal computer can be given.

(Configuration of LCD panel)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal panel provided in the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment.

The liquid crystal panel 1 has a built-in touch panel sensor and is an active matrix type liquid crystal display element using a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal panel 1 generally includes an array substrate 2 (first substrate), a counter substrate 41 (second substrate), a liquid crystal layer 52, and a sensor mechanism (first sensor unit 61 and second substrate). Sensor portion 62) and spacer 27. Each configuration will be described below.

(Array substrate)
The liquid crystal panel 1 includes an array substrate 2 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape as an active matrix substrate.

The array substrate 2 is an XGA (eXtended Graphics Array) type thin film transistor (TFT) substrate, and has a first glass substrate 3 which is a translucent substrate as a substantially transparent rectangular flat plate-like insulating substrate.

The array substrate 2 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory circuit configuration diagram showing the liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 2, a screen portion 4 as an image display area is formed in the central portion on the surface that is one main surface of the first glass substrate 3 of the array substrate 2.

● Screen 4
A plurality of pixels 5 are arranged in a matrix on the screen unit 4. A plurality of these pixels 5 are formed along the longitudinal direction of the first glass substrate 3, and m pixels are formed along the lateral direction of the first glass substrate 3. Accordingly, n × m pixels 5 are formed on the first glass substrate 3. Further, each of these pixels 5 is provided with a pixel electrode 6 as a display electrode, an auxiliary capacitor 7 as a pixel auxiliary capacitor as a storage capacitor, and a thin film transistor 8.

Note that a transparent resin layer 5 is formed in the pixel portion, and a transparent electrode layer and an alignment film (described later) are laminated on the upper portion. The transparent resin layer is formed at the same time as the first protrusion 63 of the first sensor unit 61.

Also, a plurality of scanning lines 11 as gate electrode wirings are arranged on the surface of the first glass substrate 3 along the width direction of the first glass substrate 3. These scanning lines 11 are spaced in parallel at equal intervals toward the lateral direction of the first glass substrate 3. A plurality of signal lines 12 which are image signal wirings as electrode wirings are arranged along the vertical direction of the first glass substrate 3 between the scanning lines 11. These signal lines 12 are spaced in parallel at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the first glass substrate 3. Accordingly, the scanning lines 11 and the signal lines 12 are wired in a matrix shape that intersects the first glass substrate 3 and has a lattice shape. A pixel electrode 6, an auxiliary capacitor 7, and a thin film transistor 8 are provided for each pixel 5 corresponding to each intersection of the scanning line 11 and the signal line 12.

On the other hand, an elongated rectangular flat plate-like scanning line driving circuit 14 is disposed on the periphery of the first glass substrate 3. The scanning line driving circuit 14 is provided on one side edge along the horizontal direction of the first glass substrate 3. Further, the scanning line driving circuit 14 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the first glass substrate 3, and one end of each scanning line 11 on the first glass substrate 3 is electrically connected. .

Further, at one end along the longitudinal direction of the first glass substrate 3, a signal line driving circuit 15 having an elongated rectangular flat plate shape is disposed. The signal line driving circuit 15 is provided along the lateral direction of the first glass substrate 3, and one end of each signal line 12 on the first glass substrate 3 is electrically connected. The scanning line driving circuit 14 and the signal line driving circuit 15 are synchronized with the timing at which the thin film transistor 8 is turned on / off by the scanning signal supplied from the scanning line driving circuit 14 to each scanning line 11. Then, a pixel signal is supplied to each signal line 12 to display a predetermined image on the screen portion 4 of the array substrate 2.

The array substrate 2 will be described in more detail. On the main surface of the first glass substrate 3, an undercoat layer (not shown) composed of a silicon nitride film or a silicon oxide film is laminated and formed. . On this undercoat layer, a thin film transistor 8 of a top gate type as a top gate type structure is disposed as one pixel component. The thin film transistor 8 is a switching element and a TFT element as a semiconductor element. These thin film transistors 8 include a source electrode 21 and a drain electrode 22 formed by being laminated on an undercoat layer. The source electrode 21 and the drain electrode 22 are provided in a state of being electrically insulated via a predetermined gap. The source electrode 21 is electrically connected to the signal line 12, and the drain electrode 22 is electrically connected to the auxiliary capacitor 7.

Further, an active layer 23 as a semiconductor layer is provided between the source electrode 21 and the drain electrode 22. The active layer 23 is provided on the undercoat layer including the source electrode 21 and the drain electrode 22. The active layer 23 is a polysilicon semiconductor layer as a polycrystalline semiconductor layer made of polysilicon (p-Si) as a polycrystalline semiconductor. That is, the active layer 23 is an island-shaped polysilicon thin film formed by patterning after annealing amorphous silicon (a-Si) as an amorphous semiconductor by excimer laser dissolution crystallization.

Further, on the active layer 23, a gate electrode 24 having conductivity is laminated and formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the gate electrode 24 is integrally connected to one side edge of the scanning line 11 and constitutes a part of the scanning line 11. That is, the gate electrode 24 is electrically connected to the scanning line 11. Here, the gate electrode 24 has a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the active layer 23. Further, the gate electrode 24 has a width dimension smaller than the width dimension of the active layer 23, and is provided in the central portion on the active layer 23.

As shown in FIG. 1, an interlayer insulating film 25 as an insulating layer having an insulating property is laminated on the undercoat layer including the thin film transistors 8. The interlayer insulating film 25 is made of a photosensitive acrylic resin and covers at least the substantially entire area of the screen portion 4 of the array substrate 2. In the interlayer insulating film 25, a contact hole 26 is formed as a conduction portion for opening the drain electrode 22 of each thin film transistor 8. These contact holes 26 make the drain electrode 22 of each thin film transistor 8 conductive to the interlayer insulating film 25.

Furthermore, a transparent pixel electrode 6 made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is laminated and provided on the interlayer insulating film 25 including the contact holes 26. The pixel electrodes 6 are provided in a matrix on the screen portion 4 of the array substrate 2 corresponding to each pixel 5. The pixel electrode 6 is electrically connected to the drain electrode 22 of the thin film transistor 8 through the contact hole 26. That is, the pixel electrode 6 is controlled by the thin film transistor 8 in which the drain electrode 22 is electrically connected to the pixel electrode 6.

● First sensor part 61
As described above, this embodiment has a touch sensor function. The configuration that contributes to the touch sensor is a first sensor unit 61 provided on the array substrate 2 side and a second sensor unit 62 provided on the counter substrate 41 side, which will be described later, shown in FIG.

The first sensor portion 61 is provided on the first protrusion 63 made of a transparent resin layer formed simultaneously with the transparent resin layer 5 of the pixel portion on the interlayer insulating film 25 provided on the array substrate 2. It is. Details of the first sensor unit 61 will be described later.

● Alignment film 34
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, an alignment film 34 is laminated and provided on the interlayer insulating film 25 including the pixel electrode 6 except for the vicinity of the tops of the spacers 27 and the first sensor portions 61. The alignment film 34 has less strength than ITO constituting the pixel electrode 6 and is easily peeled off because it is an organic film. Specifically, the alignment film 34 covers the surface of each pixel electrode 6 and its periphery.

Others As shown in FIG. 1, a rectangular flat plate-shaped polarizing plate 35 is superimposed on the back surface, which is the other main surface of the first glass substrate 3 on the side opposite to the side on which the alignment film 34 is provided. Has been attached. The polarizing plate 35 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view having a size that substantially covers the back surface of the first glass substrate 3 of the array substrate 2.

(Opposite substrate)
The counter substrate 41 shown in FIG. 1 has a rectangular flat plate shape and is disposed to face the array substrate 2. The counter substrate 41 includes a second substrate 42 that is a translucent substrate as an insulating substrate.

Further, a color filter layer 43 is laminated on the surface which is one main surface of the second substrate 42 on the side facing the array substrate 2.

● Color filter layer 43
The color filter layer 43 has a set of color units of at least two colors, for example, a red filter portion R as a red layer which is a red (Red: R) colored layer, and a green (Green: G) color. Three dots of a green filter portion G as a green layer, which is a layer, and a blue filter portion B as a blue layer, which is a blue (Blue: B) colored layer, are arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction of the second substrate 42. It is configured to be repeatedly arranged for each.

The red filter portion R, the green filter portion G, and the blue filter portion B are formed in a matrix on the first glass substrate 3 so as to correspond to each pixel 5 of the array substrate 2. That is, each of the red filter portion R, the green filter portion G, and the blue filter portion B is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view that is substantially equal to the size of each pixel 5 of the array substrate 2. Therefore, when the counter substrate 41 is opposed to the array substrate 2, the plurality of red filter portions R, green filter portions G, and blue filter portions B are opposed to each pixel 5 of the array substrate 2. It is provided to do.

Black matrix portions BM are formed at the boundary portions of the red filter portion R, the green filter portion G, and the blue filter portion B, respectively.

● Frame 50
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a frame portion 50 serving as a light shielding layer that surrounds the outer periphery of the color filter layer 43 is provided on the periphery of the color filter layer 43 on the second substrate 42 of the counter substrate 41. It has been.

The frame portion 50 is provided continuously on the outer peripheral edge of the color filter layer 43 and covers the outer periphery of the color filter layer 43 along the circumferential direction of the color filter layer 43. And this frame part 50 is a frame-shaped light shielding area | region, Comprising: The resin etc. to which the black pigment etc. were added are comprised. Further, the frame part 50 has a thickness dimension smaller than the thickness dimension of the color filter layer 43. That is, the frame portion 50 is formed thinner than the color filter layer 43.

● Counter electrode 47
On the surface which is one main surface of the color filter layer 43, a rectangular flat plate-like counter electrode 47 which is a common electrode as a display electrode layer is laminated and provided.

The counter electrode 47 is made of ITO as a transparent electrode, and faces the entire screen portion 4 of the first glass substrate 3 of the array substrate 2 when the counter substrate 41 and the array substrate 2 are opposed to each other. It is a large electrode having a rectangular shape in plan view. In other words, the counter electrode 47 is disposed to face the pixel electrode 6 of each pixel 5 of the array substrate 2 when the counter substrate 41 is opposed to the array substrate 2.

● Second sensor unit 62
As described above, this embodiment has a touch sensor function. In addition to the first sensor unit 61 provided on the array substrate 2 side, the second sensor unit 62 provided on the counter substrate 41 side includes the second sensor unit 62 provided on the counter substrate 41 side. Contributes to touch sensors. The second sensor unit 62 will be described later.

● Alignment film 48
An alignment film 48 is laminated on the counter electrode 47. The alignment film 48 is provided on the counter electrode 47 excluding a portion where a switch electrode described later is provided.

(Liquid crystal layer)
The counter substrate 41 and the array substrate 2 are combined so that the alignment films face each other, and a liquid crystal sealing region D having a cell thickness A having a predetermined interval is formed between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41. As shown in the figure, they are mounted in a state of being spaced apart in parallel.

In the liquid crystal sealing region D, a liquid crystal layer 52 as a light modulation layer is formed by injecting and sandwiching a liquid crystal composition having a positive dielectric anisotropy as a liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal layer 52 is configured by sealing a liquid crystal composition interposed between the alignment film 48 of the counter substrate 41 and the alignment film 34 of the array substrate 2. Further, the liquid crystal layer 52 forms a liquid crystal capacitance between the pixel electrode 6 of the array substrate 2 and the counter electrode 47 of the counter substrate 41.

The peripheral portion between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41 is a sealing material as a liquid crystal sealing portion that seals the liquid crystal layer 52 in the liquid crystal sealing region D between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41. 53 is attached and sealed. The sealing material 53 is bonded between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41 to seal between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41. The sealing material 53 is provided so as to cover the periphery of the screen portion 4 of the array substrate 2, and a liquid crystal sealing region D is formed between the screen portion 4 of the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41. . The sealing material 53 is provided between the outer portion of the frame portion 50 of the counter substrate 41 and the portion outside the screen portion 4 of the first glass substrate 3 of the array substrate 2.

Further, an electrode transition material (not shown) for applying a voltage from the array substrate 2 to the pixel electrode 6 is formed around the seal material 53. This electrode transition material is formed on an electrode transition electrode (not shown) provided in the peripheral portion of the screen (not shown) between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41.

In addition, a substantially rectangular flat plate-shaped polarizing plate 54 is attached to the back surface of the second substrate 42 of the counter substrate 41 so as to overlap. The polarizing plate 54 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view that is large enough to cover substantially the entire back surface of the second substrate 42 of the counter substrate 41.

(Sensor mechanism)
In the present embodiment, the first sensor unit 61 provided on the array substrate 2 side and the second sensor unit 62 provided on the counter substrate 41 side constitute a sensor mechanism, and are brought into conduction when they come into contact with each other. Sensing is possible.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the first sensor unit 61 provided on the array substrate 2 side and the second sensor unit 62 provided on the counter substrate 41 side are arranged to face each other. The total height of the first sensor unit 61 and the second sensor unit 62 is lower than the height of the spacer 27. Therefore, in a state where the back surface of the counter substrate 41 is not pressed, the first sensor unit 61 and the second sensor unit 62 are separated from each other. When the back surface is pressed, the projecting end of the first sensor unit 61 is separated. And the projecting end of the second sensor portion 62 are in contact with each other.

The first sensor unit 61 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 25 provided on the array substrate 2 side.

The first sensor portion 61 protrudes toward the second sensor portion 62 of the counter substrate 41, and the first protrusion 63 on the interlayer insulating film 25 and the conductive material formed on the first protrusion 63. The 1st electrode part 65 which consists of.

The first protrusion 63 is an elongated, substantially prismatic insulating portion having an insulating property, and is formed of the same film as the transparent resin layer 5 used in the pixel portion 5. The interlayer insulating film 25 is laminated and provided on the interlayer insulating film 25 in a state where the lower end surface is in contact with the interlayer insulating film 25. The first protrusion 63 is formed of a transparent resin layer and is formed of the same film as the transparent resin layer 5 used in the pixel unit 5.

As an example of the size of the first sensor unit 61, the first sensor unit 61 can be formed to have a height of 2.5 μm and a diameter of 8 μm in plan view. In this case, the transparent resin layer of the pixel portion is also formed with a height of 2.5 μm.

The first electrode portion 65 is made of a transparent conductive material formed on the upper end surface and the outer peripheral surface of the first projection portion 63. As an example, it can be configured using ITO. The first electrode portion 65 is formed of the same material as the pixel electrode 6 and is formed simultaneously in the same process as the pixel electrode 6. That is, the first electrode portion 65 is provided continuously with respect to the pixel electrode 6 and is provided integrally with the pixel electrode 6. Therefore, the first electrode portion 65 has a thickness dimension equal to the thickness dimension of the pixel electrode 6 and covers the surface of the first protrusion 63.

The portion of the first electrode portion 65 that covers the upper end surface of the first protrusion 63 functions as a switching electrode. The switching electrode constitutes the tip of the first sensor portion 61, and the tip is in contact with the tip of the second sensor portion 62 formed on the counter electrode 47.

On the other hand, the second sensor part 62 is formed in the region of the black matrix part BM provided in the color filter layer 43 of the counter substrate 41.

The second sensor part 62 protrudes toward the first sensor part 61 of the array substrate 2, and the second protrusion part 64 on the black matrix part BM and the conductive material formed on the second protrusion part 64. And a second electrode portion 66 made of The second electrode portion 66 is electrically connected to the counter electrode 47 and can be composed of the same ITO as the counter electrode 47.

As an example of the size of the second sensor unit 62, it can be formed with a height of 2.7 μm and a diameter of 8 μm in plan view.

As a method for forming the second sensor unit 62, for example, it can be formed at the same time as the spacer 27. As the method, the spacer 27 can be formed by performing a halftone mask exposure using a negative type photoresist (acrylic resin). Is formed with a height of 3.2 μm, and the second protrusion 64 is formed with a height of 2.7 μm. When the halftone mask exposure is not performed, the spacer portion 27 and the second protrusion 64 may be formed separately. (Note that a base transparent resin film 67 formed simultaneously with the transparent resin layer 5 of the pixel portion and the first protrusion 63 is formed on the base of the spacer 27.)
That is, in a state where the back surface of the counter substrate 41 is not pressed, the first sensor unit 61 and the second sensor unit 62 are separated by 0.5 μm. When the back surface of the counter substrate 41 is pressed, the counter substrate 41 is bent, and the first sensor unit 61 and the second sensor unit 62 come into contact with each other.

(Spacer)
The counter substrate 41 and the array substrate 2 are combined so that the alignment films face each other. In order to maintain a cell thickness A that is a predetermined interval between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41, the spacer 27 is provided. It is arranged. The spacer 27 is formed on the base transparent resin film 67 formed simultaneously with the transparent resin layer 5 of the pixel portion and the first protrusion 63.

The spacer 27 has an elongated cylindrical shape, and a plurality of spacers 27 are provided over the screen portion 4.

More specifically, these spacers 27 are black matrix portions formed at the boundary portions of the red filter portion R, the green filter portion G, and the blue filter portion B in the counter substrate 41 in order to prevent a decrease in the aperture ratio. It is arranged so as to face the BM. In the case of the array substrate 2, the spacer 27 is provided at a position shifted from the pixel electrode 6 and the thin film transistor 8.

The height of the spacers 27 is equal to the cell thickness A, and as an example, the height (cell thickness A) is 3.2 μm. Further, the diameters of these spacers 27 in plan view can be set to the same diameter, for example, 8 μm in diameter.

Since a plurality of spacers 27 having a height equal to the cell thickness A are provided between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41, the distance between the array substrate 2 and the counter substrate 41 is set to a predetermined thickness (cell The thickness A) can be maintained.

The spacer 27 can be made of a photosensitive acrylic resin, but is not limited thereto.

The present invention is characterized by the arrangement of these spacers 27. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG. 3 which is a plan view of the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, among the entire liquid crystal sealing region D (100%), 10 to 20% of the region N adjacent to the sealing material 53 (hereinafter referred to as the sealing material adjacent region N). ) Is configured to be smaller than the spacer occupancy in the region C (hereinafter referred to as the center region C) surrounded by the seal material adjacent region. In particular, in the present embodiment, the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the seal material adjacent area N per the same area in the seal material adjacent area N and the central area C is equal to the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central area C. It is set to 1/3 to 1/2. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where the arrangement density per area is thus different.

In other words, the distance between the two spacers 27 in the closest positional relationship among the group of spacers 27 disposed in the central region C is larger than the distance between the two spacers 27 disposed in the sealing material adjacent region N. The distance between the two spacers 27 that are closest to each other is small.

With this configuration, the substrate adjacent to the sealing material region N is more likely to bend when the surface of one substrate is pressed to achieve the touch panel function than the central region C. Therefore, by providing such a region easily bent in the vicinity of the seal material, the ease of bending of the seal material adjacent region N is reduced by the seal material 53. As a result, the seal material adjacent region N and its central region C It is possible to equalize the ease of bending.

Here, for example, when the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the sealing material adjacent area N is smaller than one third of the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central area C, for example, 1/4, Compared to the central region C, the sealing material adjacent region N becomes more easily bent, and the variation problem is not solved. Further, when the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the adjacent area N of the sealing material is smaller than one half of the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central area C, for example, three quarters, The difference between the ease of bending of the counter substrate in the region N and the ease of bending of the counter substrate in the central region C hardly occurs, and the pressing load sensed at the time of the sealing material 53 remains large, and the problem of variation is not solved. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the seal material adjacent area N per the same area in the seal material adjacent area N and the central area C is set to the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central area C. One third to one half is preferable.

In particular, the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the adjacent area N of the sealing material per the same area in the adjacent area N and the central area C is half the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central area C. 1 is preferable.

An example of the effect of the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment is illustrated in Example 1 described later.

(Configuration around the LCD panel)
In the liquid crystal panel 1 described above, a backlight unit (not shown) can be disposed on the polarizing plate 35 side (FIG. 1) of the array substrate 2.

As the backlight unit, for example, a unit configured by housing a light diffusion plate, a light guide, a reflection plate, and a backlight fluorescent tube in a backlight case can be adopted. In this configuration, a backlight fluorescent tube is arranged on the side surface of the light guide, and light emitted from the backlight fluorescent tube is incident on the light guide, the reflecting plate, and the light diffusing plate in this order, and is uniform on the display surface. As a backlight, the light is emitted toward the liquid crystal panel 1 and more specifically toward the polarizing plate 35 disposed on one side of the array substrate 2.

(Configuration of display device)
One embodiment of a display device including the liquid crystal display device having the above-described configuration is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an appearance of a mobile phone terminal as a display device. The cellular phone 70 of the present embodiment is a so-called clamshell type, and is shown in an open state in FIG. FIG. 5 shows an inner portion when the mobile phone 70 is closed, and a side that is mainly used by a user when the mobile phone 70 is opened. Therefore, in this embodiment, the side shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cellular phone 70 includes a main body 72 and a lid 73, and the main body 72 and the lid 73 are connected in a hinge shape. The lid 73 is provided with a liquid crystal display device having the liquid crystal panel 1 on the front side.

The main body 72 is provided with a main operation button group 76 on the front side. The main operation button group 76 includes a function button group 77 for performing various settings and function switching in the mobile phone 70 and an input button group 78 for inputting symbols such as numerals and characters. Specifically, the function button group 77 is a power button for switching on / off of the power of the mobile phone, a camera button for starting a photographing mode, a mail button for starting a mail mode, and moving a selection target in the up / down / left / right directions. A cross button, a determination button which is arranged at the center of the cross button and determines various selections, and the like. The input button group 78 is a numeric keypad.

In addition, the mobile phone 70 of the present embodiment has the liquid crystal panel 1 having the touch sensor function described above mounted on the display unit. Therefore, for example, a part of the main operation button group 76 described above can be operated by a touch sensor in the display unit instead of the button operation.

(Operational effect of this embodiment)
As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, the spacer disposed in the liquid crystal panel is an area of 10 to 20% adjacent to the sealing material in the entire area surrounded by the sealing material in the liquid crystal panel. The occupancy ratio of the columnar spacers disposed in the region (adjacent region of the sealing material) is the remaining region (80 to 90% of the entire region) excluding the adjacent region of the sealing material. The column spacers disposed in the remaining area are smaller than the occupation ratio. Specifically, as described above, the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the sealing material adjacent region N per the same area in the sealing material adjacent region N and the central region C is set as the arrangement of the spacers 27 in the central region C. One third to one half of the installation density.

Therefore, if only the relationship between the substrate and the spacer is considered, the sealing material adjacent region N is more likely to bend when the substrate surface is pressed than the central region C. Therefore, by providing such a region that is easily bent in the vicinity of the sealing material 53 (FIG. 1), the ease of bending of the adjacent region of the sealing material is reduced by the sealing material. The ease of bending in the central region C can be made uniform.

[Embodiment 2]
Another embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. In addition, in this embodiment, in order to explain a difference from the first embodiment, for the sake of convenience of explanation, members having the same functions as the members described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same member numbers, and the description thereof. Is omitted.

In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the sealing material adjacent region N per the same area in the sealing material adjacent region N and the central region C is set as the central region C. The spacer 27 is arranged to be one-third to one-half of the arrangement density of the spacers 27. In this form, all the spacers 27 have the same diameter. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, the diameter of the spacer 27 in the sealing material adjacent region N is smaller than the diameter of the spacer 27 in the central region C, so that the sealing material adjacent to the sealing material 53 is used. The occupation ratio of the spacer in the adjacent area N is configured to be smaller than the occupation ratio of the spacer in the central area C surrounded by the sealing material adjacent area N.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment includes a plurality of spacers so that the distance between the central axes of the spacers adjacent to each other in the sealing material adjacent region N and the central region C is equal. A spacer is provided, and the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the seal material adjacent region N is set to one third to one half of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C.

Here, for example, when the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the sealing material adjacent region N is smaller than one third of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C, for example, 1/4, the sealing material The adjacent region N is more easily bent than the central region C, and the problem of variation is not solved. Further, when the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the sealing material adjacent region N is smaller than one half of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C, for example, three quarters, the sealing material adjacent region N The difference between the ease of bending of the counter substrate and the ease of bending of the counter substrate in the central region C hardly occurs, the pressing load sensed at the time of the sealing material 53 remains large, and the problem of variation is not solved. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the sealing material adjacent region N is set to one third to one half of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C.

In particular, it is preferable that the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the sealing material adjacent region N is half of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C.

An example of the effect of the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment is illustrated in Example 2 described later.

(Operational effect of this embodiment)
As described above, in the liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment, the spacer disposed in the liquid crystal panel is an area of 10 to 20% adjacent to the sealing material in the entire area surrounded by the sealing material in the liquid crystal panel. The occupancy ratio of the columnar spacers disposed in the region (adjacent region of the sealing material) is the remaining region (80 to 90% of the entire region) excluding the adjacent region of the sealing material. The column spacers disposed in the remaining area are smaller than the occupation ratio. Specifically, as described above, a plurality of spacers are arranged so that the distance between the central axes of the spacers adjacent to each other over the sealing material adjacent region N and the central region C is equal, and the seal The diameter b of the spacer 27b in the material adjacent region N is set to one third to one half of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C.

Hereinafter, one example of the above-described first embodiment will be described in Example 1, and one example of the above-described second embodiment will be described in Example 2.

[Example 1]
Based on the liquid crystal panel 1 having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, glass plates having a thickness of 0.2 mm were used for the first glass substrate 3 and the second substrate 42. The cell thickness A was 3.2 μm, and a photosensitive acrylic resin was used for the spacer 27.

The same transparent resin as the transparent resin layer 5 same as that of the pixel portion was used for the first protrusion 63 of the first sensor portion 61. The same ITO as the pixel electrode 6 was used for the first electrode portion 65. The first sensor unit 61 has a height of 2.5 μm and a diameter of 8 μm in plan view.

A negative type photoresist (acrylic resin) was used for the second protrusion 64 of the second sensor unit 62. The same ITO as the counter electrode 47 was used for the second electrode portion 66. The second sensor unit 62 has a height of 2.7 μm and a diameter of 8 μm in plan view.

That is, in a state where the back surface of the counter substrate 41 is not pressed, the first electrode portion 65 of the first sensor portion 61 and the second electrode portion 66 of the second sensor portion 62 are separated by 0.5 μm. The structure.

The number of pixels in the image display area (liquid crystal sealing area) D was 800 × 600. A thermosetting epoxy resin was used for the sealing material 53.

The size of the image display area D defined by being surrounded by the sealing material 53 was 60000 μm in length and 40000 μm in width. That is, the entire area of the liquid crystal sealing region D was 24 cm ² (6 cm long × 4 cm wide).

In the present invention, the occupancy ratio of the spacers in the region N of 10 to 20% adjacent to the sealing material 53 (hereinafter referred to as the sealing material adjacent region N) out of the entire liquid crystal sealing region D (100%). The spacer is smaller than the occupation ratio of the spacer in the region C (hereinafter referred to as the central region C) surrounded by the sealing material adjacent region. That is, in this embodiment, the sealing material adjacent region N is a surrounding region having a width of 4 mm from the sealing material 53 toward the center of the liquid crystal sealing region D.

Therefore, the arrangement of the spacers 27 in the sealing material adjacent region N in the same area in the sealing material adjacent region N constituted by the 4 mm width surrounding region and the central region C surrounded by the sealing material adjacent region N. The density was set to a half of the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central region C. Specifically, the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the seal material adjacent area N was set to 5 / mm ^2, and the arrangement density of the spacers 27 in the central area C was set to 10 / mm ² .

The spacers 27 are arranged in such a manner that the respective areas are substantially uniform in the plane at the above density.

The spacer 27 is formed by the method described above.

Sensing reaction load (N) was measured using such a liquid crystal panel. Further, in addition to the liquid crystal panel in which the sealing material adjacent region N is an enclosed region having a width of 4 mm as described above, the following three types of comparative examples;
Comparative Example 1 (Sealant adjacent area N is less than 10-20% of the area adjacent to sealant 53) ... The difference from Example 1 is that the sealant adjacent area N has a width of “2 mm”. Liquid crystal panel with enclosed area ● Comparative example 2 (sealing material adjacent area N exceeds 10 to 20% area adjacent to sealing material 53)... A liquid crystal panel in which N is an enclosed region having a width of “6 mm”. Comparative Example 3 (no sealant adjacent region N is provided): The difference from Example 1 is that “the entire liquid crystal sealing region D ( 100%) was set to the same spacer arrangement density as the central region C ”. A liquid crystal panel was used.

Further, the measurement was carried out at both the distance from the corner of the liquid crystal sealing region D having a substantially rectangular shape surrounded by the sealing material and the distance from each side of the liquid crystal sealing region D.

The measurement results are shown in FIG. FIG. 7A is a graph showing the result of measuring the sensing reaction load along the distance from the corner of the liquid crystal sealing region D, and FIG. It is a graph which shows the result of having measured the sensing reaction load along the distance from. As a result of the measurement, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the liquid crystal panel of Example 1, the sensing reaction is performed with a substantially constant load regardless of the distance from the sealing material, as compared with each comparative example. Was shown to do. That is, according to Example 1, it was possible to realize a liquid crystal panel that is free from uncomfortable use while suppressing variations in pressing load.

[Example 2]
Example 2 corresponds to Embodiment 2, and the difference from Example 1 is that the distance between the central axes of the spacers adjacent to each other over the sealing material adjacent region N and the central region C is equal. A plurality of spacers are disposed on the surface of the sealing material adjacent region N, and the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the sealing material adjacent region N is only half of the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C.

Specifically, in this embodiment, the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central region C shown in FIG. 4 is 8 μm, and the diameter b of the spacer 27b in the seal material adjacent region N is 4 μm.

Sensing reaction load (N) was measured using such a liquid crystal panel. Further, in addition to the liquid crystal panel in which the sealing material adjacent region N is an enclosed region having a width of 4 mm as described above, the following three types of comparative examples;
Comparative Example 4 (the sealing material adjacent region N is less than 10 to 20% of the region adjacent to the sealing material 53) ... The difference from Example 1 is that the diameter b of the spacer 27b is set in the spacer in the central region C. A liquid crystal panel in which the sealing material adjacent region N, which is a half of the diameter a of 27a, is an enclosed region having a width of “2 mm” from the sealing material 53 ● Comparative Example 5 (the sealing material adjacent region N is the sealing material) The difference from Example 1 is that the diameter b of the spacer 27b is half the diameter a of the spacer 27a in the central area C. A liquid crystal panel in which the region N is an enclosed region having a width of “6 mm” from the sealing material 53 ● Comparative Example 6 (no sealing material adjacent region N is provided)... The entire stop region D (100%) is the same space as the central region C. Of the diameter "liquid crystal panel (the same liquid crystal panel and the Comparative Example 3)
Was used.

The measurement results are shown in FIG. FIG. 8A is a graph showing the result of measuring the sensing reaction load along the distance from the corner of the liquid crystal sealing region D, and FIG. It is a graph which shows the result of having measured the sensing reaction load along the distance from. As a result of the measurement, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in the liquid crystal panel of Example 2, as compared with each comparative example, the sensing reaction is performed with a substantially constant load regardless of the distance from the sealing material. Was shown to do. That is, according to Example 1, it was possible to realize a liquid crystal panel that is free from uncomfortable use while suppressing variations in pressing load.

In addition, this invention is not limited to each embodiment mentioned above. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications to the present invention within the scope of the claims. That is, a new embodiment can be obtained by combining appropriately changed technical means within the scope of the claims. In other words, the specific embodiments made in the detailed description section of the invention are merely to clarify the technical contents of the present invention, and are limited to such specific examples and are interpreted narrowly. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with various modifications within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the following claims.

(Summary of the present invention)
As described above, the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is
Opposing first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, a side of the first substrate adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and an adjacent liquid crystal layer of the second substrate Provided on at least one of the display electrode for image display provided on at least one side of the image forming side, the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate, and the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate A touch electrode for detecting a touch location, a columnar spacer for holding the first substrate and the second substrate, and an end portion of the first substrate and the second substrate so as to surround the liquid crystal layer. A liquid crystal display device having a touch sensor function, comprising a sealing material that seals a liquid crystal layer and defines an image display area;
A plurality of columnar spacers are provided across the surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate,
When the plurality of columnar spacers are viewed from the surface of the first substrate or the second substrate in a plan view, 10% to 20% of the entire image display region surrounded by the sealant is adjacent to the sealant The occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the adjacent region of the sealing material corresponding to is characterized by being smaller than the occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the central region, which is a region surrounded by the adjacent region of the sealing material.

In addition to the above configuration, an embodiment of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes:
The plurality of columnar spacers have the same diameter,
It is preferable that the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the adjacent area of the sealing material per the same area is smaller than the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the central area.

According to the above configuration, the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the adjacent area of the sealing material formed in the vicinity of the sealing material is lower than the arrangement density of the columnar spacers arranged in the remaining area. Considering only the relationship between the substrate and the second substrate and the columnar spacer, the region adjacent to the sealing material is bent more when the surface of one substrate is pressed to realize a touch panel function than the remaining region. easy. Therefore, by providing such a region in the vicinity of the seal material, the ease of bending of the seal material adjacent region is reduced by the seal material. As a result, the seal material adjacent region and the remaining region in the center are reduced. The ease of bending in the region can be made uniform.

In addition to the above configuration, an embodiment of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes:
It is preferable that the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the adjacent area of the sealing material per the same area is one third to one half of the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the central area.

According to said structure, the liquid crystal display device which made uniform the easiness of bending in the said sealing material adjacent area | region and the said center area | region which is the remaining area | region, and suppressed the variation of the press load until sensing in a display surface. Can be provided.

In addition to the above configuration, an embodiment of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes:
It is preferable that the diameter of the columnar spacer in the adjacent region of the sealing material is smaller than the diameter of the columnar spacer in the central region.

According to said structure, since the diameter of the columnar spacer in the said sealing material adjacent area | region comprised in the seal | sticker material vicinity is smaller than the diameter of the columnar spacer arrange | positioned in the said center area | region, temporarily the 1st board | substrate and 2nd Considering the relationship between the substrate and the columnar spacer alone, the substrate adjacent to the sealing material is more likely to bend when the surface of one substrate is pressed to achieve the touch panel function than the central region. Therefore, by providing such a region in the vicinity of the sealing material, the ease of bending of the adjacent region of the sealing material is reduced by the sealing material. As a result, the region of the sealing material adjacent region and the central region are easily bent. The thickness can be made uniform.

In addition to the above configuration, an embodiment of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes:
It is preferable that the diameter of the columnar spacer in the adjacent region of the sealing material is one third to one half of the diameter of the columnar spacer in the central region.

According to said structure, the liquid crystal display device which made uniform the ease of bending in the said sealing material adjacent area | region and the said center area | region, and suppressed the variation of the press load until the sensing in a display surface can be provided. .

The present invention can be mounted on any device having a liquid crystal display device as a display device having a touch panel function on a liquid crystal panel having a display function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid crystal panel 2 Array substrate 3 1st glass substrate 4 Screen part 5 Pixel (Pixel part transparent resin layer)
6 Pixel electrode 7 Auxiliary capacitor 8 Thin film transistor 11 Scan line 12 Signal line 14 Scan line drive circuit 15 Signal line drive circuit 21 Source electrode 22 Drain electrode 23 Active layer 24 Gate electrode 25 Interlayer insulating film 26 Contact holes 27, 27a, 27b Spacer portion 34 Alignment film 35 Polarizing plate 41 Counter substrate 42 Second substrate 43 Color filter layer 47 Counter electrode 48 Alignment film 50 Frame portion 52 Liquid crystal layer 53 Sealing material 54 Polarizing plate 61 First sensor portion 62 Second sensor portion 63 First protrusion 64 Second protrusion 65 First electrode part 66 Second electrode part 67 Base transparent resin film 70 Mobile phone 72 Main body 73 Cover body 76 Main operation button group 77 Function button group 78 Input button group B Blue filter part BM Black matrix part C Center area D Liquid crystal sealing area (image display area)
G Green filter part N Sealing material adjacent area R Red filter part

Claims

Opposing first and second substrates, a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, a side of the first substrate adjacent to the liquid crystal layer and an adjacent liquid crystal layer of the second substrate Provided on at least one of the display electrode for image display provided on at least one side of the image forming side, the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the first substrate, and the side adjacent to the liquid crystal layer of the second substrate A touch electrode for detecting a touch location, a columnar spacer for holding the first substrate and the second substrate, and an end portion of the first substrate and the second substrate so as to surround the liquid crystal layer. A liquid crystal display device having a touch sensor function, comprising a sealing material that seals a liquid crystal layer and defines an image display area;
A plurality of columnar spacers are provided across the surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate,
When the plurality of columnar spacers are viewed from the surface of the first substrate or the second substrate in a plan view, 10% to 20% of the entire image display region surrounded by the sealant is adjacent to the sealant The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that the occupation ratio of the columnar spacer in the adjacent region of the sealing material corresponding to is smaller than the occupation rate of the columnar spacer in the central region, which is an area surrounded by the adjacent region of the sealing material.
The plurality of columnar spacers have the same diameter,
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the adjacent area of the sealing material per area is smaller than the arrangement density of the columnar spacers in the central area.
The arrangement density of columnar spacers in the adjacent region of the sealing material per the same area is one third to one half of the arrangement density of columnar spacers in the central region. Item 3. A liquid crystal display device according to Item 2.
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the columnar spacer in the region adjacent to the sealing material is smaller than a diameter of the columnar spacer in the central region.
5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of the columnar spacer in the region adjacent to the sealing material is one third to one half of the diameter of the columnar spacer in the central region.
A display device comprising the liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.