Abstract:
In an active matrix type display device having a drive circuit at one side of an active matrix substrate and feeding a common voltage Vcom to a counter substrate side via a common transfer, the area of a frame region is reduced without degrading the yield. A pixel region of the active matrix substrate includes an actual pixel region containing an effective pixel for performing a display in accordance with a data signal supplied by signal lines, and a dummy pixel region positioned at the panel end side as compared to the actual pixel region. At least a portion of a common wiring is arranged in the dummy pixel region of the pixel region to supply a common signal to common transfers arranged on a side facing the side of the active matrix substrate where a bus line drive circuit is arranged.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an active matrix type display device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a display device having a drive circuit (driver) along one side of an active matrix substrate. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     An active matrix substrate, which is prepared by forming scanning lines and signal lines in a matrix configuration on a substrate and forming a driving element such as a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) at the intersections of these signal lines, has been used generally for a liquid crystal display device and the like. In such a conventional active matrix substrate as shown in  FIG. 17 , a scanning line drive circuit  91  is provided at one end of the scanning lines G arranged in parallel or substantially parallel to each other, and a signal line drive circuit  92  is provided at one end of the signal lines S arranged in parallel to each other and perpendicularly to the scanning lines G. Namely, in a conventional active matrix substrate  90  as shown in  FIG. 17 , the scanning line drive circuit  91  and the signal line drive circuit  92  are provided respectively on the adjacent two sides in a peripheral region  94  of a pixel region  93 . 
     According to the recent development in the semiconductor manufacturing technology, the trend for higher integration of a drive circuit has been advanced. For a display device, it is desired to downsize the cabinet of the display device while maintaining the size of the display region, and thus an important object for resolving this problem is to narrow the frame. Due to the circumstances, an attempt to mount both a scanning line drive circuit and a signal line drive circuit on only one side of a peripheral region of an active matrix substrate has been carried out (see, for example, JP 2003-241217 A). 
     Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18, JP 2003-241217 A (see FIG. 4 of this document) discloses a constitution where a drive circuit  98  formed by integrating a scanning line drive circuit and a signal line drive circuit is mounted on only one side of an active matrix substrate  95 . 
     This document discloses also in  FIG. 3  and the like a constitution where a scanning line drive circuit is arranged on one side of the active matrix substrate  95  and where signal line drive circuits are arranged on both sides of this scanning line drive circuit. In the conventional active matrix substrate as shown in  FIG. 18 , the plural signal lines S disposed in parallel to each other are led out respectively to the both sides of the pixel region  96  alternately and connected to the drive circuit  98 , thereby equalizing the widths of the frame region  97  in the extending direction at the both sides of the signal lines S. 
     The conventional constitution as shown in  FIG. 18  has been employed preferably to display devices especially for smaller electronic equipment such as portable telephones, digital cameras, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). 
     However, due to the recent trend for higher resolution of display devices, the numbers of signal lines wired on a frame region have increased rapidly. Particularly, in a high-definition panel with numbers of signal lines, it is required to reduce the width of each signal line and the intervals between the signal lines, and degradation in the yield caused by wiring leaks and breaking of wire cannot be avoided. Therefore, in such a high-definition panel, when an improvement in the yield is required, the frame width cannot be decreased due to the restriction in the wiring layout of the active matrix substrate. 
     A counter substrate that faces the active matrix substrate has a common electrode formed on the whole surface. To this common electrode, a predetermined voltage (common voltage V com ) is applied via a common wiring  101  from a drive circuit (not shown in  FIG. 18 ) provided for example on an active matrix substrate or a FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connected to the active matrix substrate. In such a case, a contact  102  (referred to as “common transfer”) for electrically connecting the common wiring  101  and the common electrode on the counter substrate is provided on the active matrix substrate  95 . The common transfer  102  is formed of an electroconductive material such as carbon paste and gold, and it has a cross sectional area of about 500 μm 2  to 1 mm 2 . When a drive circuit  98  is arranged on one side of the peripheral region of the pixel region  96  as shown in  FIG. 18 , the common transfer cannot be arranged around the drive circuit  98  since lead wirings from the drive circuit  98  are crowded there. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the common transfer  102  is arranged on a region of the frame region  97  of the active matrix substrate  95  where the lead wirings are not provided. It is also required to lead the common wiring  101  along the periphery of the pixel region  96  from the drive circuit side to the common transfer  102 . 
     The common wiring  101  is required to have a low resistance in order to avoid display failures such as non-uniformity, crosstalk or the like caused by signal delay of the common electrode. For this purpose, the common wiring  101  is required to have a sufficient width. As a result, in the conventional active matrix substrate as shown in  FIG. 18 , it is required to maintain not only a region for leading the signal lines S but a region for leading the common wiring  101  of a sufficient width around the pixel region  96 , and thus the area of the frame region cannot be reduced. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the foregoing in mind, preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a display device having a frame region area that is decreased without degrading the yield and a drive circuit arranged on one side of an active matrix substrate and feeding a common voltage V com  to a counter substrate side via a common transfer of the active matrix substrate. 
     A first display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate, the active matrix substrate including scanning lines and signal lines arranged in a matrix configuration, and a pixel region including an actual pixel region including an effective pixel for performing a display in accordance with a data signal supplied by the signal lines, and a dummy pixel region positioned at the panel end side as compared to the actual pixel region, the display device including a bus line drive circuit that is arranged on one side of the active matrix substrate and outside the pixel region and that supplies a scanning signal and a data signal to the scanning lines and the signal lines, respectively, and a common drive circuit that generates a common signal to be supplied to a common electrode of the counter substrate, the active matrix substrate including a common transfer that is provided on a side facing the side of the active matrix substrate on which the bus line drive circuit is arranged and that supplies the common signal to the common electrode of the counter substrate, and a common wiring arranged to supply the common signal to the common transfer, wherein at least a portion of the common wiring is arranged in the dummy pixel region of the pixel region. 
     According to the above-mentioned constitution where at least a portion of the common wiring is arranged in the dummy pixel region of the pixel region, the width of the common wiring arranged outside the pixel region can be decreased in comparison with the conventional constitution where the entire common wiring is arranged outside the pixel region, and/or the common wiring outside the pixel region can be eliminated. Thereby, the width of the frame region can be decreased in comparison with the conventional constitution, and thus a display device with a reduced frame region area can be provided without degrading the yield. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the common wiring arranged in the dummy pixel region is connected electrically to an auxiliary capacity wiring in the pixel region. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the common wiring arranged in the dummy pixel region is independent electrically from an auxiliary capacity wiring in the pixel region. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that a dummy auxiliary capacity wiring is arranged further in the dummy pixel region, preferably parallel or substantially parallel to the auxiliary capacity wiring in the pixel region. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the width of the auxiliary capacity wiring is narrower at a portion crossing the signal lines as compared to a general width of the common wiring. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the end portions of the signal lines opposite to the signal input side are arranged not to cross the dummy auxiliary capacity wiring. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the pixel electrode in the actual pixel region defines an auxiliary capacitor with a scanning line adjacent to a scanning line that drives the pixel electrode. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the width of the common wiring in the dummy pixel region is narrower at a portion crossing the signal lines as compared to the general width of the common wiring. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that the end portions of the signal lines opposite to the signal input side are arranged not to cross the common wiring of the dummy pixel region. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that a shielding member arranged to visually shield the dummy pixel region is also provided. 
     It is preferable in the first display device that a liquid crystal is provided between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate. 
     A second display device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a display medium between an active matrix substrate and a counter substrate, the active matrix substrate including scanning lines and signal lines arranged in a matrix configuration, and a pixel region including an actual pixel region including an effective pixel for performing a display in accordance with a data signal supplied by the signal lines, and an impurity trapping region that is positioned at the panel end side as compared to the actual pixel region and that is formed with a trap wiring for electrically trapping impurities in the display medium, the display device including a bus line drive circuit that is arranged on one side of the active matrix substrate and outside the pixel region and that supplies a scanning signal and a data signal to the scanning lines and the signal lines, respectively, and a common drive circuit that generates a common signal to be supplied to a common electrode of the counter substrate, the active matrix substrate including a common transfer that is provided on a side facing the side of the active matrix substrate on which the bus line drive circuit is arranged and that supplies the common signal to the common electrode of the counter substrate, and a common wiring arranged to supply the common signal to the common transfer, where at least a portion of the common wiring is arranged in the impurity trapping region of the pixel region. 
     According to the above-mentioned constitution where at least a portion of the common wiring is arranged in the impurity trapping region of the pixel region, the width of the common wiring arranged outside the pixel region can be decreased in comparison with the conventional constitution where the entire common wiring is arranged outside the pixel region, and/or the common wiring outside the pixel region can be eliminated. Thereby, the width of the frame region can be decreased in comparison with the conventional constitution, and thus a display device with a reduced frame region area can be provided without degrading the yield. 
     It is preferable in the second display device that the width of the common wiring in the impurity trapping region is narrower at a portion crossing the signal lines as compared to the general width of the common wiring. 
     It is preferable in the second display device that the end portions of the signal lines opposite to the signal input side are arranged not to cross the common wiring of the impurity trapping region. 
     It is preferable in the first or second display device that the display medium is a liquid crystal. 
     As mentioned above, preferred embodiments of the present invention can provide a display device having a drive circuit arranged on one side of an active matrix substrate and arranged to feed a common voltage V com  to a counter substrate side via a common transfer of the active matrix substrate, where the frame region area can be reduced without degrading the yield. 
     Other features, elements, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an equivalent circuit diagram of a dummy picture element region and an actual picture element region in the vicinity of the dummy picture element region. 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  show the cross-sectional constitution of a liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 4A  is a plan view showing the positions of cross sections;  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 4A ; and  FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 4A . 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are views for explaining the effect of the active matrix substrate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal display device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal display device according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal display device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an equivalent circuit diagram of a dummy picture element region and an actual picture element region in the vicinity of the dummy picture element region. 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal display device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIGS. 15A-15C  show the cross-sectional constitution of a liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein  FIG. 15A  is a plan view showing the positions of cross sections;  FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 16A ; and  FIG. 15C  is a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 16A . 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view showing a constitution of an active matrix substrate according to a variation of preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view showing a constitution of an active matrix substrate of a conventional display device. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view showing a constitution of an active matrix substrate of a conventional display device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. It should be noted for each of the drawings that only the main components among the components at every portion of the display device in preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown while the remaining components are simplified or not shown, for the purpose of convenience in explanation. Therefore, the display device of the present invention may include arbitrary components not shown in the respective drawings for reference in the specification. It should be noted also that the dimensions of the components in the respective drawings do not necessarily indicate the actual dimensions of the components, dimensional ratios among the respective components and the like. Furthermore, the display devices of the present invention may be employed as a liquid crystal display device in each of the preferred embodiments below, but the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal display device. 
     First Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate  10  according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 1 . The active matrix substrate  10  according to the present preferred embodiment is used for a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The active matrix substrate  10  is formed of a translucent substrate  11  of glass or the like on which scanning lines G of n in number and signal lines S of m in number are arranged to cross each other, and the active matrix substrate  10  has a pixel region  12  having a TFT and a pixel electrode (either of which is not shown) at each intersection of the scanning lines G and the signal lines S. It should be noted that in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and any other drawings to be referred to in the Specification, not all of the scanning lines G and the signal lines S are shown. The driving element is not limited to the TFT. In the active matrix substrate  10 , a region surrounding the rectangular pixel region in a frame shape and having an overlap with a counter substrate is denoted as a frame region  13 . A bus line drive circuit  16 , which is formed by integrating in one chip a scanning line drive circuit that drives the scanning lines G and a signal line drive circuit that drives the signal lines S, is mounted on one side of the active matrix substrate  10  by a COG (Chip On Glass) process for example. Alternatively, the bus line drive circuit is formed directly on the active matrix substrate  10 . 
     In the frame region  13 , common transfers  15   a  and  15   b  are provided in the vicinity of the both end portions of the side facing the side on which the bus line drive circuit  16  is arranged. The common transfers  15   a ,  15   b  are formed of an electroconductive material such as carbon paste and gold, and generally has a cross sectional area of, for example, about 500 μm 2  to 1 mm 2 . The numbers of the common transfers are not limited to two. 
     Among the signal lines S of m in number, a signal line spaced most from the bus line drive circuit  16  is denoted as S 1 , and a signal line located closest to the bus line drive circuit  16  is denoted as S m . Approximately half the signal lines S are led out from the pixel region  12  and subsequently connected to the bus line drive circuit  16  through one side in the frame region  13 ; the remaining signal lines S are led out in the direction opposite to the above-mentioned former half of the signal lines S and subsequently connected to the bus line drive circuit  16  through the frame region  13 . Namely, in the example shown in  FIG. 1 , S 2 , S 4 , S 6 , . . . among the signal lines S of m in number are connected to the bus line drive circuit  16  through the upper side of the frame region  13  in  FIG. 1 , and S 1 , S 3 , S 5 , . . . are connected to the bus line drive circuit  16  through the lower side of the frame region  13  in  FIG. 1 . In this manner, by sharing the signal lines S into two substantially equal groups and wiring on two sides facing each other in the frame region  13 , the widths of the two sides of the frame region  13  can be equalized. In the example of  FIG. 2 , the signal lines S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , . . . of m in number are led out alternately into two sides facing each other in the frame region  13 . This is not the sole example, but alternatively, the signal lines S 1 -S m/2  can be led to one side of the frame region  13 , and the signal lines S (m/2)+1 -S m  can be led in the opposite direction. It is not necessarily required in various preferred embodiments of the present invention that the signal lines S are shared into two substantially equal groups facing each other and wired in the frame region  13 . 
     The scanning lines G include not only the scanning lines G 1 -G n  of n in number to which a scanning signal for turning the TFT gate ON is applied with a predetermined timing, but also dummy scanning lines G d1 , G d2  and G d3 . In  FIG. 1 , two dummy scanning lines G d1  and G d2  are preferably provided outside the scanning line G 1  for the purpose of indicating a constitution that one dummy scanning line G d3  is provided outside the scanning line G n , but the numbers of the dummy scanning lines are not limited to this example. To the dummy scanning lines G d1 , G d2  and G d3 , signals similar to the scanning signals of the display region or signals that do not function as scanning signals are applied from the bus line drive circuit  16 . The signals that do not function as scanning signals have potential lower than the High potential to turn the TFT gate ON. Alternatively, the dummy scanning lines G d1 , G d2  and G d3  can be applied constantly with potential equal to the Low potential of the scanning signal. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a pixel electrode  17   d  and a TFT  18   d  are provided in a region between the dummy scanning line G d1  and the dummy scanning line G d2  just like the pixel electrode  17  and the TFT  18  in the actual pixel region. The gate electrode of the TFT  18   d  is connected to the dummy scanning line G d2 . The drain electrode of the TFT  18   d  is connected to the pixel electrode  17   d  (see also  FIG. 3  below). As mentioned above, the dummy scanning lines G d1 , G d2  and G d3  are applied with signals that do not function as scanning signals, and thus the pixel electrode  17   d  connected to the dummy scanning line G d1  through the TFT  18   d  constitutes a picture element (dummy picture element) that does not contribute to a display. The region formed with a dummy picture element not contributing to a display is called a “dummy picture element region”. A region where a picture element contributing to a display (effective pixel) is formed (i.e., a region between the dummy scanning line G d2  and the scanning line G n ) is called an “actual picture element region”. 
     In the present preferred embodiment, a liquid crystal display device that performs a color display by using a color filter of three colors of RGB is applied for example, and “picture element” denotes one pixel corresponding to a color filter of one color. Here, “dummy pixel region” and “dummy picture element region” are synonymous, and “actual pixel region” and “actual picture element region” are synonymous. As mentioned above, since the dummy picture element region does not contribute to a display, preferably it is shielded with either a black matrix provided on the counter substrate or a shielding plate bonded on the surface of either an active matrix substrate or a counter substrate. 
       FIG. 3  is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a dummy picture element region and an actual picture element region in the vicinity thereof. According to this constitution where the dummy scanning lines G d1  and G d2  are provided outside the actual picture element region, the sizes of parasitic capacitors C gd  between the pixel electrodes and gate bus lines are equalized in the picture elements driven by the top scanning line G 1  of the actual picture element region and the picture elements driven by the second and the following scanning lines G 2 , G 3  . . . , thereby preventing a line spectrum at the pixel region end part. Moreover, as a result of providing the dummy scanning line G d3  outside the scanning line G n , an effect is obtained, i.e., impurities in the display medium moved by the scanning signal are held in a non-display region. 
     Common wirings  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  and  14   d  are preferably formed on the four sides of the frame region  13  so as to surround the pixel region  12 . For the material of the common wirings  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  and  14   d , for example, aluminum, molybdenum, tantalum or an alloy thereof is preferably used. The common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  are formed on two sides facing each other in the frame region  13  in parallel to the scanning lines G. The common wirings  14   c  and  14   d  are formed on two sides facing each other in the frame region  13  in parallel or substantially parallel to the signal lines S. For an electric connection, the above-mentioned common transfer  15   a  is provided at the joint between the common wiring  14   a  and the common wiring  14   c . Further, for an electric connection, the common transfer  15   b  is provided at the joint between the common wiring  14   b  and the common wiring  14   c . On the active matrix substrate  10 , the common wiring  14   d  is formed in a layer different from the layer in which the common wirings  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  are formed. Therefore for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the common wiring  14   a  and the common wiring  14   d  are connected electrically to each other via a contact hole  19  formed in the insulating film between the wirings. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , auxiliary capacitors C CS  are formed in parallel to the liquid crystal capacitors C LC  on the active matrix substrate  10  of the present preferred embodiment. Therefore, the active matrix substrate  10  has auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . in each of the picture elements of the actual picture element region in order to form a capacitor (auxiliary capacitor C CS ) with the pixel electrode  18 . In the example as shown in  FIG. 2 , the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . are constituted of a trunk CS 1M  parallel to the common wirings  14   a ,  14   b  and a branch line CS 1B  that crosses this trunk CS 1M . It should be noted that the shape of the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . is not limited to the example shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     One end of the trunk CS 1M  of the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . is connected electrically to the common wiring  14   d  via the contact hole  19  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Though not shown in  FIG. 2 , the other end of the trunk CS 1M  of the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . is connected similarly to the common wiring  14   c  via a contact hole. Due to this constitution, the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . are held at the same potential as the common wirings  14   c ,  14   d.    
     Further, in the active matrix substrate  10  according to the present preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are formed within the pixel region  12 , in addition to the common wirings  14   a - 14   d  formed in the frame region  13 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the common wiring  14   e  parallel to the common wiring  14   a  is formed in the dummy picture element region between the dummy scanning line G d1  and the dummy scanning line G d2 . The common wiring  14   f  parallel to the common wiring  14   a  is formed in the dummy picture element region between the dummy scanning line G d3  and the scanning line G n . The both ends of the common wiring  14   e  are connected electrically to the common wiring  14   c  and the common wiring  14   d  respectively. Similarly, the both ends of the common wiring  14   f  are connected electrically to the common wiring  14   c  and the common wiring  14   d  respectively. The common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are formed in the same layer as the common wirings  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  but different from the common wiring  14   d . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the common wiring  14   e  and the common wiring  14   d  are connected to each other electrically via the contact hole  19  formed in the insulating films of these wirings. Although not shown in  FIG. 2 , the common wiring  14   f  and the common wiring  14   d  are connected electrically to each other similarly. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  show a cross sectional structure of a liquid crystal display device according to the present preferred embodiment.  FIG. 4A  is a plan view showing the positions of cross-sections;  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view showing a constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along a line A-A′ in  FIG. 4A ; and  FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view showing a constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along a line B-B′ in  FIG. 4A . The oriented films are not shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4C . Though  FIGS. 4A-4C  show only the cross-sectional structure of a common wiring  14   e , the common wiring  14   f  has the substantially same cross-sectional structure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the liquid crystal display device of the present embodiment has a liquid crystal  62  interposed between the active matrix substrate  10  and the counter substrate  60 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the common wiring  14   e , a first insulating film  63 , signal lines S, a second insulating film  64 , and an oriented film (not shown) are formed in this order on the surface of the translucent substrate  11  of the active matrix substrate  10 . Similarly, a black matrix  66 , a color filter  65 , a common electrode  66  and an oriented film (not shown) are formed on the surface of a translucent substrate  61  of the counter substrate  60 . 
     Though not necessarily, it is preferable that the widths of the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are increased as much as possible within a range of the dummy picture element region. When the widths of the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  in the dummy picture element region are increased, the widths of the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  in the frame region  13  can be decreased, and thereby serving to decrease the width of the frame region  13 . The common voltage V com  to be fed respectively to input ports  14   g  and  14   h  at the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  is transmitted respectively to the common transfer  15   a  and  15   b  via the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b , and at the same time, transmitted respectively to the common transfers  15   a  and  15   b  via a portion of the common wiring  14   d , the common wiring  14   e  and  14   f  and a portion of the common wiring  14   c . Namely, the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are lines for connecting in parallel the input ports  14   g ,  14   h  of the common wirings  14   a ,  14   b  as the ports for feeding the common voltage V com  and the common transfers  15   a ,  15   b , together with the portions of the common wirings  14   d ,  14   c . Therefore, as the widths of the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are increased to decrease the wiring resistance, the widths of the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  of the frame region  13  can be decreased. When the dummy picture element region is sufficiently wide and the widths of the common wirings  14   e ,  14   f  can be increased sufficiently, the common wiring in the frame region  13  can be eliminated completely. 
       FIG. 5  consists of plan views for explaining the effect of the active matrix substrate  10  according to the present preferred embodiment.  FIG. 6A  shows a conventional constitution where common wirings are arranged only in the frame region as shown in  FIG. 18 , and  FIG. 5B  shows a constitution of the present preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where the width of the frame regions are shown in a comparative contraction. As clearly shown from the comparison between the  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in the active matrix substrate  10  according to the present preferred embodiment where the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are provided also to the dummy picture element region in the pixel region  12 , the width of the frame region  13  can be decreased in comparison with the width of the frame region  97  in the conventional constitution. 
     Second Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate  20  of a liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 6 . Components similar to those having been explained in the first preferred embodiment are provided with the same reference signs as in the first preferred embodiment in order to avoid duplicated explanations. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the active matrix substrate  20  according to the present preferred embodiment is similar to the counterpart in the first preferred embodiment in that the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  are provided in the frame region  13  in parallel or substantially parallel to the signal lines S and that the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are provided in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12 , which serves to decrease the width of the frame region  13 . 
     However, the second preferred embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that common wirings  14   c   1  and  14   d   1  connect the common wiring  14   a  to the common wiring  14   e  so as to form a closed loop electrically, and that common wirings  14   c   2  and  14   d   2  connect the common wiring  14   b  to the common wiring  14   f  so as to form a closed loop electrically. 
     Further, the second preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment in that, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a voltage is fed to one end of the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . via an auxiliary capacity wiring  21   a  independent from (not connected electrically to) the common wirings. Therefore, a voltage different from the common voltage V com  can be fed to the auxiliary capacity wiring CS. As shown in  FIG. 6 , an auxiliary capacity wiring  21   b  like the auxiliary capacity wiring  21   a  is formed at the other end of the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . in order to connect electrically the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . to each other. A connection between the auxiliary capacity wirings  21   a ,  21   b  and the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . is not shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The second preferred embodiment is advantageous in comparison with the first preferred embodiment in the following points. Namely, when the display device according to the second preferred embodiment is employed for a normally white liquid crystal display device, critical defects (luminescent spot) can be avoided by feeding a voltage different from the common voltage V com , even when there is a failure that the auxiliary capacity wiring and the pixel element run short within the pixel. 
     Third Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate  30  of a liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 8 . Components similar to those having been explained in the above-described preferred embodiments are provided with the same reference signs as in the preferred embodiments in order to avoid duplicated explanations. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the active matrix substrate  30  according to the present preferred embodiment is similar to the counterparts in the first and second preferred embodiments in that the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  are provided in the frame region  13  in parallel or substantially parallel to the signal lines S and that the common wirings  14   e ,  14   f  are provided in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12 , which serves to decrease the width of the frame region  13 . 
     The third preferred embodiment is different from the first preferred embodiment but the same as the second preferred embodiment in that common wirings  14   c   1  and  14   d   1  connect the common wiring  14   a  to the common wiring  14   e  so as to form a closed loop electrically, and that common wirings  14   c   2  and  14   d   2  connect the common wiring  14   b  to the common wiring  14   f  so as to form a closed loop electrically. 
     The present preferred embodiment is different from the second preferred embodiment in that an auxiliary capacity wiring CS d  is arranged together with the common wirings  14   e ,  14   f  in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12 . By arranging the auxiliary capacity wiring CS d  in the dummy picture element region in this manner, the resistance of the entire auxiliary wirings can be decreased, thereby preventing lowering of the voltage to be applied to the auxiliary capacity wirings CS 1 , CS 2 , . . . . 
     In the present preferred embodiment, the pixel electrode  17   d  and the TFT  18   d  are not essential elements. That is, a pixel electrode is not necessarily formed in the dummy picture element region. In an alternative constitution, the dummy picture element region has no TFT, and the pixel electrode  17   d  of the dummy picture element region is connected to at least one of the auxiliary capacity wiring CS d  and the common wirings  14   e ,  14   f.    
     Fourth Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 10  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate  40  of a liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 10 . Components similar to those having been explained in the above-described preferred embodiments are provided with the same reference signs as in the preferred embodiments in order to avoid duplicated explanations. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the active matrix substrate  40  according to the present preferred embodiment is similar to the counterparts in the first and second preferred embodiments in that the common wirings  14   a  and  14   b  are provided in the frame region  13  in parallel or substantially parallel to the signal lines S and that the common wirings  14   e ,  14   f  are provided in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12 , which serves to decrease the width of the frame region  13 . 
     The fourth preferred embodiment is different from the first embodiment but the same as the second preferred embodiment in that common wirings  14   c   1  and  14   d   1  connect the common wiring  14   a  to the common wiring  14   e  so as to form a closed loop electrically, and that common wirings  14   c   2  and  14   d   2  connect the common wiring  14   b  to the common wiring  14   f  so as to form a closed loop electrically. 
       FIG. 12  is an equivalent circuit diagram showing a dummy picture element region and an actual picture element region in the vicinity thereof. As shown in  FIG. 12 , in a liquid crystal display device according to the present preferred embodiment, auxiliary capacitors C CS  are formed by using the scanning lines of the adjacent pixels. Therefore, unlike the first and second preferred embodiments, the active matrix substrate  40  according to the present preferred embodiment does not have any auxiliary capacity wirings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , in the active matrix substrate  40 , each of the pixel electrode  17  and the pixel electrode  17   d  forms an auxiliary capacitor C CS  with a scanning line positioned above by one step in both the actual picture element region and the dummy picture element region. For example, the pixel electrode  17  of a picture element connected to the scanning line G 1  forms an auxiliary capacitor C CS  with a dummy scanning line G d2  positioned above the scanning line G 1  by one step. 
     Fifth Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 13  is a plan view showing a schematic constitution of an active matrix substrate  50  of a liquid crystal display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 14  is an enlarged plan view showing inside and the vicinity of the circle-A in  FIG. 13 . Components similar to those having been explained in the above-described preferred embodiments are provided with the same reference signs as in the embodiments in order to avoid duplicated explanations. 
     Unlike any of the first to fourth preferred embodiments, the active matrix substrate  50  according to the present preferred embodiment does not have a dummy picture element region. Instead, the active matrix substrate  50  has a trap wiring  51   a  and  51   b  outside (frame region side) the scanning line G 1  and also outside (frame region side) the scanning line G n  as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , for trapping ionic impurities in the liquid crystal. 
     When rubbing an oriented film during a process for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, the oriented film scraped off from the substrate due to the friction may adhere as a foreign substance to the surface of the oriented film and diffused as ionic impurities into the liquid crystal over time. The trap wirings  51   a  and  51   b  are applied with a predetermined voltage (for example, −5 V) so as to have a function of trapping the ionic impurities. Thereby, display irregularities caused by diffusion of the ionic impurities into the actual picture element region can be prevented. The trap wirings  51   a ,  51   b  are formed of a material of the transparent electrode (ITO or IZO) like the pixel electrode or a material of the wirings (for example, Al or Mo) like the scanning lines G or the signal lines S. 
     In the active matrix substrate  50 , common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  are arranged in the lower layer of the trap wirings  51   a ,  51   b .  FIGS. 15A-15C  shows the structure of a liquid crystal display device according to the present preferred embodiment.  FIG. 15A  is a plan view showing the positions of cross sections;  FIG. 15B  is a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along the line A-A′ in  FIG. 16A ; and  FIG. 15C  is a cross-sectional view showing the constitution of the liquid crystal display device taken along the line B-B′ in  FIG. 16A . The oriented film is not shown in  FIGS. 15B and 11C . Though  FIG. 15A-15C  show only the cross-sectional structure of the trap wiring  61   a , these figures can be applied also to the structure of the trap wiring  51   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 15B and 11C , the liquid crystal display device according to the present preferred embodiment has a liquid crystal  62  interposed between the active matrix substrate  50  and a counter substrate  60 . As shown in  FIG. 15B , a common wiring  14   e , a first insulating film  63 , signal lines S, a second insulating film  64 , a trap wiring  51   a , and an oriented film (not shown) are formed in this order on the surface of a translucent substrate  11  of the active matrix substrate  50 . Similarly, a black matrix  66 , a color filter  65 , a common electrode  66  and an oriented film (not shown) are formed on the surface of a translucent substrate  61  of the counter substrate  60 . The black matrix  66  on the counter substrate  66  is arranged to cover the trap wiring  51   a.    
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 15C , the common wiring  14   e  is formed on the surface of the translucent substrate  11  of the active matrix substrate  50 . And the first insulating film  63 , the second insulating film  64  and the trap wiring  51   a  are formed thereon. Though the width of the common wiring  14   e  in the constitution shown in  FIGS. 15A-15C  is greater than the width of the trap wiring  51   a , the common wirings  14   e  and  14   f  can be narrower than the trap wirings  51   a ,  51   b . It should be noted that, however, the widths of the common wirings  14   a ,  14   b  can be decreased as the widths of the common wirings  14   e ,  14   f  are increased, thereby reducing the size of the frame region  13 . 
     In addition to the above-described first to fifth preferred embodiments, variations of these embodiments will be described below.  FIG. 16  is a plan view showing a constitution of an active matrix substrate  70  according to a variation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, specifically, a variation of the first preferred embodiment. In  FIG. 16 , as shown in the circular regions P 1 , the common wiring  14   e  provided in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12  of the active matrix substrate  70  is formed preferably to be narrower at the portion crossing the signal lines S than the general width W. Similarly, the common wiring  14   f  is formed preferably so that the width W′ of a portion crossing the signal lines S to be narrower than the general width W. Thereby, the load imposed on the signal lines S can be decreased to feed an appropriate voltage to the pixel electrode. This is effective also in lowering the risk of short circuit between the signal lines S and the common wiring  14   e , which is caused by pinholes or the like in the insulating films. Though  FIG. 16  shows an example of variation of the first preferred embodiment, similar effects can be obtained by using any of the active matrix substrates according to the second to fifth preferred embodiments, by forming the common wiring  14   e  provided in the pixel region  12  so that the width of the part crossing the signal lines S will be narrower than the general width W. In the third preferred embodiment, similar effects can be obtained by forming the auxiliary capacity wiring CS d  provided in the dummy picture element region so that the width of a portion crossing the signal lines S to be narrower than the general width W. 
     Further, as indicated in the circular regions P 2 , in the active matrix substrate  70 , it is preferable that the end of the signal lines S opposite to the signal input side is prevented from crossing the common wiring  14   e  provided in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12 . Thereby, the load imposed on the signal lines S can be decreased to feed an appropriate voltage to the pixel electrode, and a short circuit between the signal lines S and the common wiring  14   e , which is caused by pinholes or the like in the insulating films, can be prevented. Similarly, the common wiring  14   f  is arranged preferably not to cross the end portions of the signal lines S opposite to the signal input side. Though  FIG. 16  shows a variation of the first preferred embodiment, similar effects can be obtained by using the active matrix substrates according to any of the second to fifth preferred embodiments, by providing a constitution where the end portions of the signal lines S opposite to the signal input side do not cross the common wiring  14   e  provided in the dummy picture element region of the pixel region  12 . In the third preferred embodiment, it is preferable that the auxiliary capacity wiring CS d  in the dummy picture element region is arranged not to cross the signal lines S at the end portions opposite to the signal input side. 
     Each of the preferred embodiments mentioned above is just a specific example of the present invention, and the preferred embodiments can be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example,  FIG. 2  or the like shows a constitution where the scanning line is parallel or substantially parallel to the long side of the active matrix substrate; the scanning line can be parallel or substantially parallel to the short side of the active matrix substrate. 
     Though  FIG. 2  or the like shows an example where the picture elements are disposed in a delta arrangement, the picture elements can be disposed in a stripe arrangement. 
     The numbers of the dummy scanning line are not limited to three as in the above examples, but the numbers can be increased. Thereby, when a plurality of lines of the dummy picture element regions are formed, the common wirings and the auxiliary capacity wirings (in the third preferred embodiment) can be arranged in only one row of the dummy pixel region. Alternatively, the common wirings and the auxiliary capacity wirings (in the third preferred embodiment) can be arranged in a plurality of rows of the dummy picture element regions. 
     When the present invention is practiced as a liquid crystal display device, there is no particular limitation on the display mode of the liquid crystal, existence of a backlight and the like. The present invention can be applied to a liquid crystal display device of an arbitrary mode such as transparent, reflective, or semitransparent. 
     The present invention can be used for industrial application such as an active matrix substrate having a bus line drive circuit arranged on one side of a frame region and feeding a common voltage V com  to a side of a counter substrate via a common transfer, and also as a display device using the active matrix substrate. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.