Abstract:
A display having a reflective region capable of simplifying a fabrication process with no requirement for providing a reflective electrode separately from the remaining layers is provided. This display, having a reflective region, comprises a reflective material layer, formed on a region of a substrate corresponding to the reflective region, having a function for serving as a reflective layer, an insulating layer formed on the reflective material layer and a transparent electrode formed on the insulating layer, while the reflective material layer is formed by the same layer as a layer having a prescribed function different from the function for serving as the reflective layer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a display and a method of fabricating the same, and more particularly, it relates to a display having a reflective region and a method of fabricating the same.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Background Art  
           [0004]    In relation to a transflective liquid crystal display, there is generally proposed a structure obtained by providing a convex insulating layer on a region corresponding to a reflective region thereby equalizing the distance (optical path length) whereat light incident upon a transmissive region passes through a liquid crystal layer with the distance (optical path length) whereat light incident upon the reflective region passes through the liquid crystal layer. This structure is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-98951, for example.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the structure of a conventional transflective liquid crystal display having a convex insulating layer (flattened layer). FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the conventional display taken along the line  150 - 150  in FIG. 13. The conventional transflective liquid crystal display has two regions, i.e., a reflective region  160   a  and a transmissive region  160   b  in each pixel. The reflective region  160   a  is provided with a reflective electrode  110 , while the transmissive region  160   b  is provided with no reflective electrode  110  dissimilarly to the transmissive region  160   a . Thus, the reflective region  160   a  displays an image by reflecting light incident along arrow A in FIG. 14 by the reflective electrode  110 . On the other hand, the transmissive region  160   b  displays an image by transmitting light along arrow B in FIG. 14. The structure of the conventional transflective liquid crystal display is now described in detail.  
           [0006]    An active layer  102  is formed on a region of a glass substrate  101 , including a buffer layer  101   a  on the upper surface thereof, corresponding to the reflective region  160   a . A source region  102   b  and a drain region  102   c  are formed on the active layer  102  to hold a channel region  102   a  therebetween at a prescribed interval. A gate electrode  104  is formed on the channel region  102   a  of the active layer  102  through a gate insulating layer  103 . The source region  102   b , the drain region  102   c , the gate insulating layer  103  and the gate electrode  104  constitute a thin-film transistor (TFT). A storage capacitive electrode  105  is formed on a prescribed region of the gate insulating layer  103  corresponding to the reflective region  160   a . A storage capacitive region  102   d  of the active layer  102 , the gate insulating layer  103  and the storage capacitive electrode  105  constitute a storage capacitor. As shown in FIG. 13, the gate electrode  104  is connected to a gate line  104 , while the storage capacitive electrode  105  is connected to a storage capacitive line  105   a.    
           [0007]    As shown in FIG. 14, an interlayer dielectric layer  106  having contact holes  106   a  and  106   b  is formed to cover the thin-film transistor and the storage capacitor. A source electrode  107  is formed to be electrically connected to the source region  102   b  through the contact hole  106   a  of the interlayer dielectric layer  106 . A drain electrode  108  is formed to be electrically connected to the drain region  102   c  through the contact hole  106   b  of the interlayer dielectric layer  106 . The drain electrode  108  is connected to a drain line  108   a , as shown in FIG. 13. A flattened layer  109  of acrylic resin having a via hole  109   a  and an opening  109   b  is formed on the interlayer dielectric layer  106 . This flattened layer  109  is formed to have a convex sectional shape. The side surfaces of the via hole  109   a  and the opening  109   b  of the flattened layer  109  are inclined by prescribed angles.  
           [0008]    As shown in FIG. 14, a reflective electrode  110  is formed on a region of the flattened layer  109  corresponding to the reflective region  160   a  to be electrically connected to the source electrode  107  through the via hole  109   a  while extending along the upper surface of the flattened layer  109  and the side surface of the opening  190   b  of the flattened layer  109 . An opening  110   a  is formed on a region of the reflective electrode  110  corresponding to the transmissive region  160   b . A transparent electrode  111  is formed on a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer  106  located on the reflective electrode  110  and the opening  110   a  provided with neither the flattened layer  109  nor the reflective electrode  110 . The transparent electrode  111  and the reflective electrode  110  constitute a pixel electrode.  
           [0009]    Another glass substrate (counter substrate)  112  is provided on a position opposite to the glass substrate  101 . A color filter  113  presenting red (R), green (G) or blue (B) is formed on the glass substrate  112 . A black matrix layer  114  for preventing leakage of light between pixels is formed on a region of the glass substrate  112  corresponding to a clearance between the pixels. A transparent electrode  115  is formed on the upper surfaces of the color filter  113  and the black matrix layer  114 . Orientation layers (not shown) are formed on the upper surfaces of the transparent electrodes  111  and  115  respectively. A liquid crystal layer  116  is charged between the orientation layers of the glass substrates  101  and  112 .  
           [0010]    FIGS.  15  to  17  are sectional views for illustrating a process of fabricating the conventional display.  
           [0011]    As shown in FIG. 15, the active layer  102  is formed on the prescribed region of the glass substrate  101  including the buffer layer  110   a  on the upper surface thereof. Then, the gate insulating layer  103  is formed to cover the active layer  102 . Thereafter an Mo layer formed on the overall surface is so patterned as to form the gate line  104   a  (see FIG. 13) including the gate electrode  104  and the storage capacitive line  105   a  including the storage capacitive electrode  105 . Thereafter the gate electrode  104  is employed as a mask for implanting impurity ions into the active layer  102 , thereby forming the pair of source and drain regions  102   b  and  102   c  to hold the channel region  102   a  therebetween. Then, the interlayer dielectric layer  106  is formed to cover the overall surface of the glass substrate  101 . Thereafter the contact holes  106   a  and  106   b  are formed on regions of the interlayer dielectric layer  106  corresponding to the source and drain regions  102   b  and  102   c  respectively.  
           [0012]    A metal layer (not shown) is formed to fill up the contact holes  106   a  and  106   b  while extending along the upper surface of the interlayer dielectric layer  106 . This metal layer is so patterned as to form the source and drain electrodes  107  and  108 . The drain line  108   a  (see FIG. 13) consisting of the same layer as the drain electrode  108  is also formed at the same time. The source electrode  107  is formed to be electrically connected to the source region  102   b  through the contact hole  106   a  while the drain electrode  108  is formed to be electrically connected to the drain region  102   c  through the contact hole  106   b.    
           [0013]    Then, the flattened layer  109  of acrylic resin is formed to cover the overall surface of the glass substrate  101 , and the via hole  109   a  and the opening  109   b  are formed on prescribed portions of the flattened layer  109  respectively. Then, an AlNd layer (not shown) is formed to cover the overall surface, and prescribed regions thereof are thereafter removed. Thus, the reflective electrode  110  of AlNd is formed to be electrically connected to the source electrode  107  through the via hole  109   a  while extending along the upper surface of the flattened layer  109  and the side surface of the opening  109   b  of the flattened layer  109 , as shown in FIG. 16. This reflective layer  110  is formed to have the opening  110   a  in the region corresponding to the transmissive region  160   b . The reflective region  160   a  provided with the reflective electrode  110  and the transmissive region  160   b , provided with no reflective electrode  110 , corresponding to the opening  109   b  of the flattened layer  109  are formed in the aforementioned manner.  
           [0014]    As shown in FIG. 17, the transparent electrode  111  is formed on the reflective electrode  110  and the portion of the interlayer dielectric layer  106  located on the opening  110   a . Thereafter the orientation layer (not shown) is formed on the overall surface including the transparent electrode  111 .  
           [0015]    Finally, the color filter  113  is formed on the glass substrate (counter substrate)  112  provided opposite to the glass substrate  101  while the black matrix layer  114  is formed on the region of the glass substrate  112  corresponding to the clearance between the pixels. Then, the transparent electrode  115  and the orientation layer (not shown) are successively formed on the upper surfaces of the color filter  113  and the black matrix layer  114 . The liquid crystal layer  116  is charged between the orientation layers of the glass substrates  101  and  112 , thereby forming the conventional transflective liquid crystal display.  
           [0016]    In the aforementioned conventional transflective liquid crystal display, however, the reflective electrode  110  for reflecting light on the reflective region  160   a  must be provided separately from the remaining layers, and hence additional steps are required for depositing the layer constituting the reflective electrode  110  and patterning this layer. Consequently, the fabrication process is disadvantageously complicated.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0017]    An object of the present invention is to provide a display having a reflective region capable of simplifying the fabrication process with no requirement for providing a reflective electrode separately from the remaining layers.  
           [0018]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of fabricating a display having a reflective region capable of simplifying the fabrication process.  
           [0019]    In order to attain the aforementioned objects, a display according to a first aspect of the present invention, having a reflective region, comprises a reflective material layer, formed on a region of a substrate corresponding to the reflective region, having a function for serving as a reflective layer, an insulating layer formed on the reflective material layer and a transparent electrode formed on the insulating layer, while the reflective material layer is formed by the same layer as a layer having a prescribed function different from the function for serving as the reflective layer.  
           [0020]    In the display according to the first aspect, the reflective layer can be formed simultaneously with the layer having the prescribed function different from the function for serving as the reflective layer, whereby no reflective layer may be separately formed. Consequently, the fabrication process can be simplified.  
           [0021]    A display according to a second aspect of the present invention, having a reflective region, comprises a reflective material layer, formed on a region of a substrate corresponding to the reflective region, having a function for serving as a reflective layer, an insulating layer formed on the reflective material layer and a transparent electrode formed on the insulating layer, while the reflective material layer is formed by at least one layer selected from a group consisting of a source/drain electrode, a gate electrode, a storage capacitive electrode and a black matrix layer.  
           [0022]    In the display according to the second aspect, the reflective layer can be formed simultaneously with at least one layer selected from the group consisting of the source/drain electrode, the gate electrode, the storage capacitive electrode and the black matrix layer, whereby no reflective layer may be separately formed. Consequently, the fabrication process can be simplified.  
           [0023]    A method of fabricating a display having a reflective region according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises steps of forming a reflective material layer also having a prescribed function different from a function for serving as a reflective layer on a substrate, patterning the reflective material layer to be formed on a region corresponding to the reflective region, forming an insulating layer on the reflective material layer and forming a transparent electrode on the insulating layer.  
           [0024]    In the method of fabricating a display according to the third aspect, the reflective layer can be formed simultaneously with the layer having the prescribed function different from the function for serving as the reflective layer, whereby the fabrication process can be simplified as compared with a case of separately forming the reflective layer.  
           [0025]    The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a transflective liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the display according to the first embodiment taken along the line  50 - 50  in FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    FIGS.  3  to  7  are sectional views for illustrating a process of fabricating the display according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the structure of a transflective liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the display according to the second embodiment taken along the line  60 - 60  in FIG. 8;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a sectional view for illustrating a process of fabricating the display according to the second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the structure of a transflective liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the structure of a display according to a modification of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the structure of a conventional transflective liquid crystal display;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the conventional display taken along the line  150 - 150  in FIG. 13; and  
         [0036]    FIGS.  15  to  17  are sectional views for illustrating a process of fabricating the conventional display. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0037]    Embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0038]    (First Embodiment)  
         [0039]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a transflective liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention has two regions, i.e., a reflective region  60   a  and a transmissive region  60   b , in each pixel.  
         [0040]    More specifically, an active layer  2  of non-single-crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon having a thickness of about 30 nm to about 50 nm is formed on a region of a glass substrate  1 , including a buffer layer  1   a  consisting of a multilayer layer of an SiN x  layer and an SiO 2  layer on the upper surface thereof, corresponding to the reflective region  60   a , as shown in FIG. 2. The glass substrate  1  is an example of the “substrate” in the present invention. The active layer  2  is provided with a source region  2   b  and a drain region  2   c  to hold a channel region  2   a  therebetween at a prescribed interval. A gate electrode  4  consisting of an Mo layer having a thickness of about 200 nm to about 250 nm is formed on the channel region  2   a  of the active layer  2  through a gate insulating layer  3  having a thickness of about 80 nm to about 150 nm and consisting of an SiO 2  layer or a multilayer layer of an SiO 2  layer and an SiN layer. The source region  2   b , the drain region  2   c , the gate insulating layer  3  and the gate electrode  4  constitute a thin-film transistor. The gate electrode  4  is connected to a gate line  4   a  consisting of the same layer as the gate electrode  4 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0041]    A storage capacitive electrode  5  consisting of an Mo layer having a thickness of about 200 nm to about 250 nm is formed on a prescribed region of the gate insulating layer  3  corresponding to the reflective region  60   a , as shown in FIG. 2. A storage capacitive region  2   d  of the active layer  2 , the gate insulating layer  3  and the storage capacitive electrode  5  constitute a storage capacitor. As shown in FIG. 1, the storage capacitive electrode  5  is connected to a storage capacitive line  5   a  consisting of the same layer as the storage capacitive electrode  5 . The storage capacitive line  5   a  is used in common to pixels of each row.  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 2, an interlayer dielectric layer  6  having a thickness of about 500 nm to about 700 nm and consisting of a multilayer layer of an SiO 2  layer and an SiNx layer is formed to cover the thin-film transistor and the storage capacitor. Contact holes  6   a  and  6   b  are formed through portions of the interlayer dielectric layer  6  and the gate insulating layer  3  located on the source and drain regions  2   b  and  2   c  respectively. A source electrode  7  is formed to be electrically connected to the source region  2   b  through the contact hole  6   a . The source electrode  7  consists of an Mo layer, an Al layer and another Mo layer in ascending order, and has a thickness of about 400 nm to about 800 nm.  
         [0043]    According to the first embodiment, the source electrode  7  is formed on a region corresponding to the reflective region  60   a , as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the source electrode  7  functions also as a reflective layer. Consequently, the reflective region  60   a  displays an image by reflecting light incident along arrow A in FIG. 2 by the source electrode  7 . On the other hand, the transmissive region  60   b  displays an image by transmitting light along arrow B in FIG. 2. The source electrode  7  is an example of the “reflective material layer” or the “source/drain electrode” in the present invention.  
         [0044]    A drain electrode  8  is formed to be electrically connected to the drain region  2   c  through the contact hole  6   b . This drain electrode  8  consists of an Mo layer, an Al layer and another Mo layer in ascending order and has a thickness of about 400 nm to about 800 nm, similarly to the source electrode  7 . The drain electrode  8  is connected to a drain line  8   a , as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 2, a flattened layer  9  of acrylic resin including a via hole  9   a  and having a thickness of about 2 μm to about 3 μm is formed on the interlayer dielectric layer  6 . This flattened layer  9  is an example of the “insulating layer” in the present invention. A transparent electrode  10  of IZO (indium zinc oxide) having a thickness of about 100 nm to about 150 nm is formed on the flattened layer  9 . This transparent electrode  10  is formed to be connected to the source electrode  7  through the via hole  9   a . This transparent electrode  10  constitutes a pixel electrode.  
         [0046]    Another glass substrate (counter substrate)  11 , a color filter  12  and a black matrix layer  13  are formed on a position opposite to the glass substrate  1 , similarly to the conventional display. Another transparent electrode  14  of IZO having a thickness of about 100 nm to about 150 nm is formed on the upper surfaces of the color filter  12  and the black matrix layer  13 .  
         [0047]    Orientation layers (not shown) are formed on the upper surfaces of the transparent electrodes  10  and  14  respectively, and a liquid crystal layer  15  is charged between these orientation layers.  
         [0048]    According to the first embodiment, as hereinabove described, the source electrode  7  is so formed on the region corresponding to the reflective region  60   a  that the source electrode  7  functioning also as the reflective layer and the drain electrode  8  can be formed in an ordinary step of forming the source and drain electrodes  7  and  8 , whereby no reflective electrode (reflective layer) may be separately formed. Thus, the fabrication process can be simplified.  
         [0049]    The process of fabricating the transflective liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment is now described with reference to FIGS.  1  to  7 .  
         [0050]    As shown in FIG. 3, the active layer  2  is formed on the prescribed region of the glass substrate  1  including the buffer layer  1   a  on the upper surface thereof. Then, the gate insulating layer  3  is formed to cover the active layer  2 . Thereafter an Mo layer (not shown) is formed on the overall surface. Resist layers  16  are formed on prescribed regions of the Mo layer. The resist layers  16  are employed as masks for patterning the Mo layer by dry etching thereby forming the gate line  4   a  (see FIG. 1) including the gate electrode  4  and the storage capacitive line  5   a  including the storage capacitive electrode  5 , and the resist layers  16  are removed.  
         [0051]    Thereafter the gate electrode  4  is employed as a mask for implanting ions into the active layer  2 , thereby forming the source and drain regions  2   b  and  2   c.    
         [0052]    As shown in FIG. 4, the interlayer dielectric layer  6  is formed to cover the overall surface. Then, the contact holes  6   a  and  6   b  are formed in regions of the interlayer dielectric layer  6  corresponding to the source and drain regions  2   b  and  2   c  respectively. Then, a metal layer (not shown) is formed to fill up the contact holes  6   a  and  6   b  while extending along the upper surface of the interlayer dielectric layer  6 . Resist layers  17  (see FIG. 5) are formed on prescribed regions of the metal layer.  
         [0053]    According to the first embodiment, the resist layer  17  located on the portion corresponding to the region to be provided with the source electrode  7  is formed on the region corresponding to the reflective region  60   a . The resist layers  17  are employed as masks for wet-etching the metal layer, thereby patterning the same. Thus, the source electrode  7  located on the region (see FIG. 1) corresponding to the reflective region  60   a  and the drain electrode  8  are formed as shown in FIG. 5. The drain line  8   a  (see FIG. 1) consisting of the same layer as the drain electrode  8  is also formed at the same time. The source electrode  7  is formed to be electrically connected to the source region  2   b  through the contact hole  6   a , while the drain electrode  8  is formed to be electrically connected to the drain region  2   c  through the contact hole  6   b . Thereafter the resist layers  17  are removed.  
         [0054]    As shown in FIG. 6, the flattened layer  9  is formed to cover the overall surface, and the via hole  9   a  is thereafter formed in a prescribed portion thereof.  
         [0055]    An IZO layer (not shown) is formed to cover the overall surface, and prescribed regions thereof are thereafter removed. Thus, the transparent electrode  10  is formed to be electrically connected to the source electrode  7  through the via hole  9   a  while extending along the upper surface of the flattened layer  9 , as shown in FIG. 7. Thereafter the orientation layer (not shown) is formed on the transparent electrode  10 .  
         [0056]    Finally, the color filter  12  and the black matrix layer  13  are formed on the glass substrate (counter substrate)  11 , and the transparent electrode  14  and the other orientation layer (not shown) are successively formed on the upper surfaces thereof. The liquid crystal layer  15  is charged between the aforementioned two orientation layers, thereby forming the transflective liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2.  
         [0057]    (Second Embodiment)  
         [0058]    Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a storage capacitive electrode  25  (storage capacitive line  25   a ) and a gate line  24   a  function as reflective layers in a transflective liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention, dissimilarly to the aforementioned first embodiment. The remaining structure of the transflective liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment other than the storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a  is similar to that of the aforementioned first embodiment.  
         [0059]    The storage capacitive electrode  25  and the storage capacitive line  25   a  both consisting of Mo are formed on a region corresponding to a reflective region  70   a . The gate electrode  24   a  is formed on another region corresponding to the reflective region  70   a , as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a  function also as reflective layers. Consequently, the reflective region  70   a  displays an image by reflecting light incident along arrow A in FIG. 9 by the storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a . On the other hand, a transmissive region  70   b  displays an image by transmitting light along arrow B in FIG. 9. The storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a  are examples of the “reflective material layer” in the present invention.  
         [0060]    According to the second embodiment, as hereinabove described, the storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a  are formed on the regions corresponding to the reflective region  70   a  so that the storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a  functioning also as the reflective layers can be simultaneously formed in an ordinary step of forming the storage capacitive electrode  25 , the storage capacitive line  25   a  and the gate line  24   a , whereby no reflective electrode (reflective layer) may be separately formed. Thus, the fabrication process can be simplified.  
         [0061]    The process of fabricating the transflective liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment is now described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 10. Illustration of steps similar to those in the first embodiment is simplified.  
         [0062]    As shown in FIG. 10, an active layer  2  is formed on a prescribed region of a glass substrate  1  including a buffer layer  1   a  on the upper surface thereof. A gate insulating layer  3  is formed to cover the active layer  2 . Thereafter an Mo layer (not shown) is formed on the overall surface. Resist layers  28  are formed on prescribed regions of the Mo layer. According to the second embodiment, the resist layer  28  located on a portion corresponding to the region provided with the storage capacitive line  25   a  including the storage capacitive electrode  25  is formed on the region corresponding to the reflective region  70   a . The resist layers  28  are employed as masks for dry-etching the Mo layer thereby patterning the same. Thus, the storage capacitive line  25   a  including the storage capacitive electrode  25  and the gate line  24   a  (see FIG. 8) are formed on the regions corresponding to the reflective region  70   a , as shown in FIG. 10. At the same time, another gate line  4   a  (see FIG. 8) including a gate electrode  4  is also formed by patterning the Mo layer. Thereafter the resist layers  28  are removed.  
         [0063]    Subsequent fabrication steps are similar to those of the first embodiment. According to the second embodiment, a source electrode  27  is formed on a region not corresponding to the reflective region  70   a , dissimilarly to the source electrode  7  (see FIG. 2) in the transflective liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment.  
         [0064]    (Third Embodiment)  
         [0065]    Referring to FIG. 11, a convex insulating layer  30  is provided on a region of a counter substrate corresponding to a reflective region  60   a  in a transflective liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention, dissimilarly to the aforementioned first and second embodiments.  
         [0066]    According to the third embodiment, the convex insulating layer  30  consisting of a photosensitive organic resin layer is formed on a region of a glass substrate  11 , serving as the counter substrate, corresponding to the reflective region  60   a , as shown in FIG. 11. A transparent electrode (counter electrode)  34  and an orientation layer (not shown) similar to those in the aforementioned embodiment are successively formed to cover the convex insulating layer  30 . A liquid crystal layer  35  is charged between another orientation layer provided on another transparent electrode (pixel electrode)  10  and the orientation layer provided on the transparent electrode (counter electrode)  34 .  
         [0067]    According to the third embodiment, the convex insulating layer  30  is so formed on the region corresponding to the reflective region  60   a  as to vary the distance between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode with the reflective region  60   a  and a transmissive region  60   b . More specifically, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer  35  in the reflective region  60   a  is half that in the transmissive region  60   b . Thus, light passes through the liquid crystal layer  35  twice in the reflective region  60   a  while the same passes through the liquid crystal layer  35  only once in the transmissive region  60   b , whereby optical path lengths of the light passing through the liquid crystal layer  35  in the reflective region  60   a  and the transmissive region  60   b  are equalized with each other.  
         [0068]    The remaining structure of the third embodiment is similar to that of the aforementioned first embodiment.  
         [0069]    In a process of fabricating the transflective liquid crystal display according to the third embodiment, a color filter  12  and a black matrix layer  13  are formed on the glass substrate  11 .  
         [0070]    Thereafter a photosensitive organic resin layer (not shown) is formed on the overall surfaces of the color filter  12  and the black matrix layer  13 . Thereafter exposure and development are performed with a photomask having a prescribed pattern. Thus, the convex insulating layer  30  consisting of the photosensitive organic resin is formed on regions of the upper surfaces of the color filter  12  and the black matrix layer  13  corresponding to the reflective region  60   a.    
         [0071]    Finally, the transparent electrode  34  and the orientation layer (not shown) are successively formed to cover the convex insulating layer  30  and the liquid crystal layer  35  is charged between the aforementioned two orientation layers, thereby forming the transflective liquid crystal display according to the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 11. Steps of forming the elements up to the transparent electrode  10  and the other orientation layer (not shown) provided on the glass substrate  1  are similar to those of the aforementioned first embodiment.  
         [0072]    According to the third embodiment, as hereinabove described, the convex insulating layer  30  is so formed on the region of the glass substrate (counter substrate)  11  corresponding to the reflective region  60   a  as to substantially equalize the optical path lengths in the reflective region  60   a  and the transmissive region  60   b  with each other, whereby dispersion in display quality can be reduced between cases of transmissive display and reflective display. According to the third embodiment, a source electrode  7  is formed on a region corresponding to the reflective region  60   a  similarly to the aforementioned first embodiment, whereby no reflective electrode (reflective layer) may be separately formed.  
         [0073]    Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.  
         [0074]    For example, while the present invention is applied to the transflective liquid crystal display having both of the reflective region  60   a  or  70   a  and the transmissive region  60   b  or  70   b  in each of the aforementioned first to third embodiments, the present invention is not restricted to this but is also applicable to a reflective liquid crystal display having only a reflective region.  
         [0075]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned first to third embodiments but an electrically floating reflective layer of the same layer as a source electrode connected with none o the source electrode, a drain electrode and a drain line can also be formed simultaneously with the source electrode or the like formed by patterning.  
         [0076]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned first to third embodiments but a metal layer having another prescribed function may be employed to function also as a reflective layer. For example, a drain line may be employed to function as a reflective layer. Alternatively, a black matrix layer (on-chip black matrix layer)  81  having an opening  81   a  on a portion corresponding to a transmissive region  80   b  may be formed immediately on a substrate provided with a thin-film transistor or between the substrate and a buffer layer, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the remaining portion of the black matrix layer  81  located on a reflective region  80   a  can be employed to function as a reflective layer. When the drain line or the black matrix layer  81  is employed to function as the reflective layer, no additional step may be newly added for forming a reflective electrode (reflective layer). Consequently, the fabrication process can be simplified.  
         [0077]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned first to third embodiments but is also applicable to a passive matrix liquid crystal display or a segment liquid crystal display other than an active matrix liquid crystal display.  
         [0078]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned first to third embodiments but a transparent substrate consisting of quartz or plastic or a glass substrate comprising no buffer layer may be employed.  
         [0079]    Alternatively, a transparent electrode consisting of a transparent conductor (including the so-called semitransparent body) such as ITO (indium tin oxide) may be employed.  
         [0080]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned first to third embodiments but a gate electrode may be formed by a high melting point metal layer such as a Cr layer other than an Mo layer. Further, each of source and drain electrodes may be formed by three layers such as a Ti layer, an Al layer and another Ti layer or a Ti—W layer, an Al layer and another Ti—W layer in ascending order.  
         [0081]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned third embodiment but a convex insulating layer consisting of an organic material may be formed on a region of a counter substrate corresponding to a reflective region. Further, a convex insulating layer consisting of a plurality of layers may be employed.  
         [0082]    The present invention is not restricted to the aforementioned third embodiment but a color filter may be formed to cover a convex insulating layer.