Abstract:
A liquid crystal display device includes: a pair of substrates that are bonded together with a sealing member having a closed loop shape that is formed around a display region with a space maintained from the display region; and a liquid crystal layer that is disposed between the pair of substrates so as to maintain a cell gap of a predetermined thickness, wherein, between the display region and the sealing member, a cell thick area, in which a cell gap larger than the cell gap of the display region is formed, is formed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/013,287, filed Jan. 25, 2011, which application claims priority to Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2010-017900 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jan. 29, 2010, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present application relates to a liquid crystal display device manufactured by using a One Drop Fill (hereinafter, referred to as “ODF”) method, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device suppressing insertion of liquid crystal into a sealing member and generation of air bubbles inside the liquid crystal. 
     As a method of enclosing liquid crystal in a liquid crystal display device, an ODF method is known. The ODF method is a method in which, before two substrates, for example, an array substrate and a color filter substrate, on which various wirings and the like are formed, are bonded together, any one of the substrates that is disposed on the lower side is coated with a sealing member in a closed loop shape, liquid crystal is dropped into the inside thereof, thereafter, the substrate is covered with the other substrate located on the upper side and bonded therewith, and the sealing member is cured by ultraviolet rays, heat, or the like. 
     In the ODF method, after coating is performed with the sealing member, the liquid crystal is injected, and thereafter a pair of substrates is bonded together. However, at this time, the sealing member is brought into contact with the liquid crystal in the state in which the sealing member is not cured. Since the liquid crystal is brought into contact with the sealing member for a long time, and pressure is applied thereto at the time of bonding the substrates together, the liquid crystal is inserted into the sealing member that is still in a soft state. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the liquid crystal finally passes through the sealing member so as to cause leakage of the liquid crystal. 
     On the other hand, a corner portion of the sealing member in the liquid crystal display device is relatively far from the center portion of the liquid crystal display device, compared to the side portion of the sealing member, and accordingly, the liquid crystal material is insufficient therein, and the liquid crystal does not sufficiently spread thereto. Therefore, there is a problem in that air bubbles are generated in a portion in which the amount of the liquid crystal is insufficient. 
     In order to solve such a problem, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device capable of dropping the liquid crystal with a dropping amount optimized for each substrate is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3678974. In other words, according to the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3678974, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device in which liquid crystal is injected by dropping the liquid crystal onto a substrate, then disposing the liquid crystal dropping face of the substrate so as to face an opposing substrate and bonding the substrates together in vacuum, and returning the pressure to the atmospheric pressure, the optimized amount of the liquid crystal to be enclosed between the two substrates is predicted by measuring the columnar height of a columnar spacer installed so as to determine a cell thickness between the two substrates bonded together, and the amount of liquid crystal to be dropped is controlled based on the predicted value. 
     According to the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the ODF method disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3678974, the amount of liquid crystal optimized for each liquid crystal display panel can be dropped. Accordingly, air bubbles due to an insufficient amount of liquid crystal or an uneven display due to an excessive amount of liquid crystal can be eliminated, whereby it is thought that the liquid crystal display device can be stably manufactured in massive volume. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3678974, in order to measure the columnar height of the columnar spacer, it is necessary to include a special device. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost increases. In addition, a new process for the measurement is added, and accordingly, there is a problem in that the manufacturing efficiency decreases. Furthermore, the optimized amount of the liquid crystal may be incorrectly determined in accordance with the accuracy of the measurement of the columnar height of the columnar spacer. 
     In addition, in Japanese Patent No. 3678974 described above, a method of dropping the liquid crystal in a plurality of spots is disclosed. However, since the dropped liquid crystal spreads in an approximately concentric pattern, the liquid crystal quickly arrives at the side portions, which is the same as in the above-described case. In addition, in a case where the liquid crystal is dropped in a plurality of spots, the amount of the liquid crystal for each spot decreases. Therefore, there is a concern that the liquid crystal spread to the corner portion may be further insufficient, and accordingly, it is difficult to solve the above-described problems. 
     The inventors of the present application have performed various reviews for solving the above-described problems in related art and found that by disposing a groove between a display region and the sealing member, contact time between the liquid crystal and the sealing member can be shortened and by allowing the liquid crystal to flow through the groove, the liquid crystal can broadly spread even to corner portions into which it is difficult for the liquid crystal to spread, thereby completing the present application. Thus, the present application addresses a liquid crystal display device manufactured using an ODF method in which insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member is suppressed, and generation of air bubbles in corner portions is suppressed. 
     According to an embodiment, there is provided a liquid crystal display device including: a pair of substrates that are bonded together with a sealing member having a closed loop shape that is formed around a display region with a space maintained from the display region; and a liquid crystal layer that is disposed between the pair of substrates so as to maintain a cell gap of a predetermined thickness. Between the display region and the sealing member, a cell thick area, in which a cell gap larger than the cell gap of the display region is formed, is formed. 
     As a problem in the ODF technology in related art, the distances to the side portion and the corner portion of the sealing member from the center portion of the display region are different from each other. Accordingly, the liquid crystal arrives at the side portion in a short time, and the contact time in the side portion is lengthened. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the liquid crystal is inserted into the sealing member. On the other hand, there is a disadvantage that the liquid crystal is insufficient in the corner portion of the sealing member so as to generate air bubbles in the display region. 
     According to the above-described liquid crystal display device, between the display region and the sealing member, the cell thick area, in which a cell gap larger than the cell gap of the display region is formed, is formed. Accordingly, at the time of the ODF bonding process, when the liquid crystal spreading from the center portion of the display region arrives at the side portion of the sealing member, the liquid crystal flows into the cell thick area formed in the portion, and accordingly, the contact time between the liquid crystal and the sealing member can be shortened. Therefore, insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member can be suppressed. In addition, as the liquid crystal flowed into the side portion moves along the cell thick area to the corner portion to which it is difficult for the liquid crystal to spread, a sufficient amount of the liquid crystal can arrive at the corner portion of the sealing member. Therefore, generation of air bubbles due to an insufficient amount of the liquid crystal can be suppressed. 
     In the above-described liquid crystal display device, the display region may have a rectangular shape. 
     Generally, in a liquid crystal display device having a rectangular shape, the center portion is disposed relatively far from the corner portion, and accordingly, the above-described problem appears the most remarkably. However, according to the above-described liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal in the corner portion of the liquid crystal display device in which the display region has a rectangular shape is suppressed from being insufficient. Accordingly, a liquid crystal display device suppressing generation of air bubbles due to an insufficient amount of the liquid crystal can be provided. 
     In addition, in the above-described liquid crystal display device, the cell thick area may be formed so as to have a broad width on the side of a longer side of the sealing member and have a narrow width on the side of a shorter side of the sealing member. 
     Generally, the sealing member located on the side of the longer side is closer to the center portion of the display region than the sealing member located on the side of the shorter side. Accordingly, the liquid crystal arrives at the sealing member located on the side of the longer side in a short time, whereby insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member may easily occur. Thus, according to the above-described liquid crystal display device, the width of the cell thick area located on the side of the longer side is formed to be relatively broad, and the width of the cell thick area located on the side of the shorter side is formed to be relatively narrow. Thus, according to the above-described liquid crystal display device, it takes time for the liquid crystal spreading to the side of the longer side to arrive at the sealing member side through the cell thick area having the broad width, whereby the insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member can be suppressed. In addition, by changing the size of the cell thick area in accordance with the distance to the display region from the center portion, the insertion can be efficiently suppressed, and it becomes easier for the liquid crystal to arrive at the corner portion, whereby generation of air bubbles inside the liquid crystal layer can be suppressed. 
     In the above-described liquid crystal display device, it is preferable that the cell thick area is formed except for a corner portion of the sealing member. 
     According to the above-described liquid crystal display device, the cell thick area is formed only in the side portion of the sealing member in which insertion of the liquid crystal may easily occur. Accordingly, while insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member is suppressed, in the corner portion in which the cell thick area is not formed, the liquid crystal easily spreads up to the corner portion with the liquid crystal spreading along the cell thick area and the liquid crystal spreading along the substrate surface on which the cell thick area is not formed, whereby the generation of air bubbles can be further suppressed. 
     In the above-described liquid crystal display device, the cell thick area may have a largest width in a portion that is closest to a center portion of the display region and a smallest width in a portion that is farthest from the center portion and be formed so as to change continuously or intermittently in accordance with a distance from the display region. 
     According to the above-described liquid crystal display device, the width, in which the cell thick area is formed, is formed so as to be changed in accordance with the distance from the center portion of the display region. Accordingly, the width of the cell thick area located in the center portion of the side of each side at which the liquid crystal arrives in the shortest time is formed to be the broadest, and the cell thick area of the corner portion at which the liquid crystal arrives in the longest time is formed to be the narrowest. Thus, according to the above-described liquid crystal display device, insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member can be efficiently suppressed, and generation of air bubbles in the corner portion can be suppressed. Furthermore, the width of the cell thick area may be changed by the longer side portion and the shorter side portion of each side in accordance with the liquid crystal display device to be manufactured. 
     In the above-described liquid crystal display device, the cell gap of the cell thick area may be formed so as to sequentially increase from the display region side toward the sealing member side. 
     When the cell gap of the cell thick area is formed so as to sequentially increase from the display region side toward the sealing member side, the liquid crystal can spread to the cell thick area more easily. Thus, according to the above-described liquid crystal display device, a liquid crystal display device can be acquired in which it is difficult for the liquid crystal to be inserted into the sealing member and the amount of air bubble generated inside the liquid crystal is a little. 
     In the above-described liquid crystal display device, it is preferable that the cell thick area is formed from a groove that is formed in a resin layer formed between the display region of one or both of the pair of substrates and the sealing member. 
     According to the above-described liquid crystal display device, the cell thick area can be formed by forming a groove in the resin layer that is generally formed. Accordingly, the cell thick area can be formed without using a special manufacturing process or a special material, whereby a liquid crystal display device can be provided at low price. 
     In the above-described liquid crystal display device, the cell thick area may be formed on at least one of the pair of substrates. 
     According to the above-described liquid crystal display device, it is preferable to form the cell thick area on a substrate that is disposed on the lower side at the time of dropping the liquid crystal, accordingly, substrates of various liquid crystal display devices to be manufactured can be responded. In addition, by forming the cell thick area on both substrates of a pair of the substrates, the liquid crystal arriving at the sealing member can be increased through the cell thick area formed on both the substrates when the substrates are bonded together. Accordingly, the insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member and the generation of air bubbles in the corner portion can be suppressed further. In addition, since the shape of the cell thick area formed for each substrate of a pair of the substrates can be changed, the time or the speed at which the liquid crystal spreads can be controlled by the shape of the cell thick area. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be increased in accordance with the size or the shape of the liquid crystal display device. 
     Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1 of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged plan view of one sub pixel represented by seeing through a color filter substrate of a liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVA-IVA shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVB-IVB shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line IVC-IVC shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic plan view showing the process of spreading liquid crystal to a liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VB-VB shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 5C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VC-VC shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIB-VIB shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIC-VIC shown in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7A  is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIB-VIIB shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 7C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIC-VIIC shown in  FIG. 7A . 
         FIG. 8A  is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 4. 
         FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIB-VIIIB shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 8C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIIC-VIIIC shown in  FIG. 8A . 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are plan views showing other configurations of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 4. 
         FIG. 10A  is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 5, which corresponds to  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view of another configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 5. 
         FIG. 10C  is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 6, which corresponds to  FIG. 4A . 
         FIG. 10D  is a cross-sectional view of another configuration of the liquid crystal display device according to Embodiment 6. 
         FIG. 11A  is a schematic plan view showing the process of spreading liquid crystal to a liquid crystal display device of an example in related art. 
         FIG. 11B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIB-XIB shown in  FIG. 11A . 
         FIG. 11C  is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIC-XIC shown in  FIG. 11A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present application will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     However, in the embodiments described below, liquid crystal display devices for embodying the technical idea of embodiments are described as examples. The embodiments are not for the purpose of limiting the application to the liquid crystal display devices, and other embodiments within the scope of the present application can be implemented in the same manner. In the drawings used for the description here, in order to scale each layer or each member so as to be recognizable in the drawings, the layers and members are represented in different scales, and thus the layers and the members are not represented in proportion to the actual sizes thereof. 
     The “surface” of the array substrate or the color filter substrate described below represents a surface on which various wirings are formed. The liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment may be a so-called vertical electric field-type liquid crystal display device that is driven in a TN (Twisted Nematic) mode, a VA (Vertical Alignment) mode, or an MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) mode or a horizontal electric field-type liquid crystal display device such as an IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode or an FFS (Fringe Field Switching) mode. However, the liquid crystal display device of each embodiment will be described as being represented by a liquid crystal display device of the FFS mode. 
     Embodiment 1 
     First, the configuration of a liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , in the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1, an array substrate  11  (it corresponds to “one substrate” according to the embodiment) in which various wirings and the like are formed on the first transparent substrate  12  formed from rectangular glass or the like and a color filter substrate  25  (it corresponds to “the other substrate” according to the embodiment) in which a color filter layer and the like are formed on the second transparent substrate  26  formed from rectangular glass or the like are disposed so as to face each other. Then, the array substrate  11  and the color filter substrate  25  are bonded together by a sealing member  31 , and a liquid crystal  35  (see  FIG. 3 ) is enclosed inside a space that is formed by the sealing member  31 . In addition, an area (an area contributing to display) inside an area surrounded by the sealing member  31  in which a plurality of sub pixel regions  32 , to be described later, are formed becomes a display region  33 , and an area outside the display region  33  becomes a non-display region  34  (also termed a “frame region”). 
     In addition, the array substrate  11  having a size slightly larger than that of the color filter substrate  25  is used so as to form an overhanging portion with a predetermined space when being disposed so as to face the color filter substrate  25 . This overhanging portion becomes a mounting area  12   a  in which a driver IC  36  for driving the liquid crystal  35  and the like are disposed. Since the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1 is manufactured by using an ODF method, a liquid crystal injecting opening is not formed. In addition, between the display region  33  of the array substrate  11  and the sealing member  31 , a cell thick area  30 A having a cell gap G 2  (see  FIGS. 4A to 4C ) larger than a cell gap G 1  between the substrates in the display region  33  is formed. This cell thick area  30 A will be described in detail later. 
     Next, the configurations of the array substrate  11  and the color filter substrate  25  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4C . First, in the array substrate  11 , a plurality of scanning lines  13 , for example, formed from a wiring of two layers of Mo/Al are formed on the surface of the first transparent substrate  12  so as to be parallel to one another. In addition, the entire surface of the first transparent substrate  12  on which the scanning lines  13  are formed is coated with a gate insulating film  15  formed from a transparent insulating material such as silicon nitride or silicon oxide. Then, in an area in which a thin film transistor (TFT)  17  as a switching device is formed, a semiconductor layer  16 , for example, formed from an amorphous silicon layer is formed on the surface of the gate insulating film  15 . The area of the scanning line  13  located at a position at which the semiconductor layer  16  is formed forms a gate electrode G of the TFT  17 . 
     In addition, on the surface of the gate insulating film  15 , a signal line  14  including a source electrode S, for example, formed from a conductive layer having a structure of three layers of Mo/Al/Mo and a drain electrode D are formed. Both the source electrode S portion of the signal line  14  and the drain electrode D portion partially overlap with the surface of the semiconductor layer  16 . In addition, the entire surface of the array substrate  11  is coated with a passivation film  18  that is formed from a transparent insulating material such as silicon nitride or silicon oxide. Furthermore, the entire surface of the passivation film  18  is coated with an interlayer film  19 , for example, formed from a resin material, and in the passivation film  18  and the interlayer film  19  at a position corresponding to the drain electrode D, a contact hole  24  is formed. In the interlayer film  19 , a groove portion  19   a  is formed in which the interlayer film  19  is not formed between the sealing member  31 , to be described later, and the display region  33  (see  FIGS. 4A to 4C ). 
     Then, in order to form the pattern shown in  FIG. 2 , a lower electrode  20  is formed with a transparent conductive material, for example, formed from ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or IZO (Indium Zinc Oxide) on the interlayer film  19  in the area (hereinafter, referred to as a “sub pixel region  32 ”) surrounded by the scanning lines  13  and the signal lines  14 . This lower electrode  20  is electrically connected to the drain electrode D through the contact hole  24 . Thus, the lower electrode  20  operates as a pixel electrode. In addition, on the lower electrode  20 , an inter-electrode insulating film  21  is formed. As the material of the inter-electrode insulating film  21 , a transparent insulating material having a good insulating property such as silicon nitride is used. 
     On the inter-electrode insulating film  21 , a plurality of upper electrodes  22 , for example, having bar-shaped slits  23  in the plan view are formed in the sub pixel region  32  with a transparent conductive material formed from ITO or IZO. These upper electrodes  22  are formed to extend along the entirety of the display region  33  and are electrically connected to a common wiring (not shown in the figure) in a non-display region  34 . Accordingly, the upper electrodes  22  serve as a common electrode. Thereafter, by disposing an alignment film (not shown in the figure) in the entirety of the surface including the upper electrodes  22  of the display region  33 , the array substrate  11  of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1 is formed. 
     At this time, as shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , in the array substrate  11 , the cell thick area  30 A is formed in which the groove portion  19   a , in which the above-described interlayer film  19  is not formed, has a cell gap G 2  larger than the cell gap G 1  in the display region  33 . In addition, in the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, as shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C , the depths G 2  and the widths WA of the cell thick areas  30 A that are formed in a longer side portion  31   a , a shorter side portion  31   b , and a corner portion  31   c  of the sealing member  31  are configured to be the same. In  FIGS. 4A to 4C , the first electrode, the inter-electrode insulating film, and the second electrode that are formed on the array substrate are omitted. 
     Next, in the color filter substrate  25 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , on the surface of the second transparent substrate  26  formed from a glass substrate or the like, the light shielding layer  27  is formed so as to coat positions corresponding to the scanning line  13 , the signal line  14 , and the TFT  17  of the array substrate  11  and the non-display region  34 . Then, on the surface of the second transparent substrate  26  on which the light shielding layer  27  is formed, a color filter layer  28  that is formed from a plurality of colors, for example, three colors of red, green, and blue is formed. In addition, an overcoat layer  29  formed from a transparent resin is formed so as to coat the surfaces of the light shielding layer  27  and the color filter layer  28 . On the surface of the overcoat layer  29 , an alignment film (not shown in the figure) is formed in the entirety of the surface of the color filter substrate  25 . In addition, on the outer faces of the array substrate  11  and the color filter substrate  25 , polarizing plates (not shown in the figure) are disposed. 
     The sealing member  31  is drawn on the array substrate  11  by using a dedicated seal dispenser. In the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, any liquid crystal injecting opening is not formed. Thus, coating is made with the sealing member  31  in a closed loop shape (see  FIG. 1 ). After drawing of the sealing member  31  is completed, the liquid crystal  35  is dropped by using an ODF method, the color filter substrate  25  is superimposed on the array substrate  11  so as to apply pressure thereon, and the sealing member  31  is cured by ultraviolet rays, heat, or the like, whereby both the substrates  11  and  25  are bonded together. Although the sealing member  31  has been described as being drawn on the array substrate  11 , the sealing member  31  may be drawn on the color filter substrate  25 . In addition, the substrate onto which the liquid crystal is dropped is not necessarily the substrate on which the sealing member  31  is drawn. Thus, it may be configured that the liquid crystal is dropped onto a substrate located on a side opposite to the substrate on which the sealing member  31  is drawn, and both the substrates are bonded together. However, it is more effective that the liquid crystal is dropped onto a substrate forming the cell thick area  30 A that is a feature of the embodiment. 
     Next, the advantage of Embodiment 1 owing to the formation of the cell thick area  30 A on the array substrate  11  at a time when coating is made with the liquid crystal  35  and the substrates are bonded together will be described in comparison with a general example with reference to  FIGS. 4A to 4C ,  FIGS. 5A to 5C , and  FIGS. 11A to 11C . Here, a difference between a liquid crystal display device  10 ′ as a general example shown in  FIGS. 11A to 11C  and the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1 is that the cell thick area is not formed in the liquid crystal display device  10 ′. Thus, the same reference numeral is assigned to common parts other than that, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11A , in a case where the liquid crystal  35  is dropped onto the general liquid crystal display device  10 ′ by using the ODF method and is sealed, distances from the center portion of the display region  33  to the side portions  31   a  and  31   b  and the corner portion  31   c  of the sealing member  31  are different from each other. Accordingly, the liquid crystals  35   a  and  35   b  arrive at the side portions  31   a  and  31   b  in a short time. In addition, this tendency is particularly remarkable in the longer side portion  31   a . Furthermore, in a case where the ODF method is used, the sealing member  31  is brought into contact with the liquid crystal  35  in an uncured state. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 11B , a time during which the liquid crystal  35  and the sealing member  31  are brought into contact with each other is lengthened. Thus, when the pressure at the time of bonding is applied, the liquid crystal  35 ′ may be inserted into the sealing member  31  so as to break the sealing member  31 , whereby leakage of the liquid crystal may occur. 
     On the other hand, since a distance to the corner portion  31   c  of the sealing member  31  is long, as shown in  FIG. 11C , a time until the liquid crystal  35   c  arrives at the corner portion  31   c  is necessary. Accordingly, since there is no sufficient amount of the liquid crystal  35 , there is a portion that is not filled with the liquid crystal  35 . Thus, air bubbles  37  may be generated in the portion. Since the substrates  11  and  25  are bonded together after injection of the liquid crystal  35  using the ODF method inside the device in a vacuum state, the air bubbles  37  are generated in a portion that is not filled with the liquid crystal when bonding is completed and the pressure is returned to the atmospheric pressure, that is, the corner portion. These air bubbles  37  may move when the liquid crystal display device is tilted or accelerated, and the retention of the air bubbles in the display region  33  causes a defective display. 
     Thus, in the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1, as shown in  FIGS. 4A to 4C  and  5 A to  5 C, the cell thick area  30 A is formed between the sealing member  31  and the display region  33 . In the array substrate shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5C , the first electrode, the inter-electrode insulating film, and the second electrode are not shown in the figure. 
     According to the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1, in a case where bonding is performed after dropping the liquid crystal  35  using the ODF method, as shown in  FIG. 5A , the liquid crystal  35   a  arrives at the longer side portion  31   a  of the sealing member  31  in a short time, similarly to a general example. At this time, since the cell thick area  30 A is formed in the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the liquid crystal  35   a  flows into the cell thick area  30 A. Accordingly, time is necessary until the liquid crystal is brought into contact with the sealing member  31 , whereby prolonged contact between the liquid crystal and the sealing member  31  is suppressed. In addition, since the cell thick area  30 A is formed along the sealing member  31  forming a coat in the closed loop shape, as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5C , the liquid crystal  35  flowed into the cell thick area  30 A spreads along the cell thick area  30 A and arrives at the corner portion  31   c . Accordingly, the corner portion  31   c , into which it is difficult for the liquid crystal  35  to spread in related art, is filled up with a sufficient amount of the liquid crystal  35  by the liquid crystal  35   c  spreading on the display region  33  and the liquid crystal  35   d  spreading along the cell thick area  30 A, whereby generation of air bubbles due to an insufficient amount of liquid crystal can be suppressed (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). 
     Then, after the bonding of the array substrate  11  and the color filter substrate  25  is completed, the driver Dr and the like are disposed in the mounting area  12   a  of the array substrate  11 , whereby the liquid crystal display device  10  according to Embodiment 1 is formed. 
     As above, according to the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1, by forming the cell thick area  30 A between the display region  33  and the sealing member  31 , the liquid crystal display device can be provided in which insertion of the liquid crystal  35  into the sealing member  31  at the time of bonding using the ODF method and generation of air bubbles in the corner portion, into which it is difficult for the liquid crystal  35  to spread, are suppressed. 
     In addition, since the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1 has a rectangular shape, the liquid crystal in the corner portions of the liquid crystal display device having a rectangular display region  33  is suppressed from being insufficient, whereby a liquid crystal display device suppressing generation of air bubbles can be provided. In this embodiment, the display region  33  is represented as having a rectangular shape. However, the display region may have a shape such as a circular shape or a horseshoe shape. Particularly, a shape such as a horseshoe shape partially having a corner portion can be used very effectively. 
     In addition, the cell thick area  30 A formed in the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 1 is formed by forming a groove in the interlayer film  19  (resin film) that is formed in a general array substrate. Accordingly, the cell thick area  30 A can be formed without using a special manufacturing process or a special material, whereby a liquid crystal display device can be provided at a low price. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Next, a liquid crystal display device  10 B according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A to 6C . Only the formation pattern of a cell thick area  30 B of the liquid crystal display device  10 B according to Embodiment 2 is different from that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1. Thus, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the liquid crystal display device  10 B of Embodiment 2, as shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , the width WB 1  of the cell thick area  30 B 1  on the side of the longer side portion  31   a  of the sealing member is formed to be relatively broad, and the width WB 2  of the cell thick area  30 B 2  on the side of the shorter side portion  31   b  of the sealing member is formed to be relatively narrow. 
     The liquid crystal  35 , as described above, quickly arrives at the side of the side of the sealing member  31 . However, particularly, the side of the longer side portion  31   a  of the sealing member is closer to the center portion of the display region  33  than the side of the shorter side portion  31   b , and accordingly, the liquid crystal  35  can be easily inserted into the sealing member  31 . Thus, according to the liquid crystal display device  10 B of Embodiment 2, it takes a long time for the liquid crystal  35   a  spreading to the side of the longer side portion  31   a  to arrive at the sealing member  31  due to the cell thick area  30 B 1  having a broad width. Accordingly, insertion of the liquid crystal  35  into the sealing member  31  can be suppressed. In addition, it takes a longer time for the liquid crystal  35   b  spreading to the side of the shorter side portion  31   b  to arrive at the sealing member than that spreading to the side of the longer side portion  31   a , but it takes a shorter time for the liquid crystal  35   b  to arrive at the sealing member than that spreading to the corner portion  31   c . Accordingly, by forming the cell thick area  30 B 2  having a narrow width on the side of the shorter side portion  31   b , the liquid crystal  35  can effectively spread to the side of the shorter side portion  31   b . In addition, by allowing the liquid crystal to flow into the cell thick area  30 B 2  having a narrow width while insertion of the liquid crystal is suppressed by shortening the contact time between the liquid crystal  35  and the sealing member  31 , the liquid crystal  35  can effectively spread to the corner portion  31   c , whereby generation of air bubbles can be suppressed. 
     Embodiment 3 
     Next, a liquid crystal display device  10 C according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7A to 7C . Only the formation pattern of a cell thick area of the liquid crystal display device  10 C according to Embodiment 3 is different from that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1. Thus, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the liquid crystal display device  10 C of Embodiment 3, as shown in  FIGS. 7A to 7C , the cell thick area  30 C is formed only in the side portions  31   a  and  31   b  of the sealing member  31  formed on the array substrate  11  except for the corner portion  31   c  thereof. 
     By employing such a configuration, according to the liquid crystal display device  10 C of Embodiment 3, the cell thick area  30 C is formed only in the side portions  31   a  and  31   b  of the sealing member  31  in which insertion of the liquid crystal  35  can easily occur. Accordingly, similarly to the above-described Embodiment 1, insertion of the liquid crystal  35  into the sealing member  31  can be suppressed. In addition, in the corner portion  31   c  in which the cell thick area is not formed, the liquid crystal does not flow into the cell thick area, and accordingly, the liquid crystal  35  can spread without any waste. Thus, owing to the liquid crystal  35  spreading along the cell thick area  30 C formed in the side portions  31   a  and  31   b  and the liquid crystal  35  spreading along the substrate surface in which the cell thick area is not formed in the corner portion  31   c , the liquid crystal  35  can easily arrive at the corner portion  31   c , whereby generation of the air bubbles can be further suppressed. 
     In addition, the width of the cell thick area  30 C in the shorter side portion of the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 3 may be formed to be smaller than that of the cell thick area in the longer side portion. In such a case, the advantages of Embodiment 2 of the present application also can be acquired. 
     Embodiment 4 
     Next, a liquid crystal display device  10 D according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8A to 8C . Only the formation pattern of a cell thick area of the liquid crystal display device  10 D according to Embodiment 4 is different from that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1. Thus, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the cell thick area  30 D of the liquid crystal display device  10 D of Embodiment 4, as shown in  FIGS. 8A to 8C , the width WD 1  of a portion located closest to the center portion of the display region  33  is the largest, and the width WD 2  of a portion located farthest from the center portion is the smallest. Thus, the cell thick area  30 D is formed in a so-called “diamond shape” in the plan view in which the width continuously changes in accordance with the distance from the display region  33 . By employing such a configuration, the width of the cell thick area  30 D in the center portion on the side of the side portions  31   a  and  31   b  at which the liquid crystal  35  arrives in a shortest time is formed to be the broadest, and the cell thick area  30 D in the corner portion  31   c  at which the liquid crystal  35  arrives in a longest time is formed to be the smallest. 
     Thus, according to the liquid crystal display device  10 D of Embodiment 4, insertion of the liquid crystal  35  into the sealing member  31  can be effectively suppressed in accordance with the manner in which the liquid crystal  35  spreads. In addition, in the corner portion  31   c , since the width of the cell thick area  30 D is formed to be the narrowest, the liquid crystal  35  spreads on the substrate, and the liquid crystal  35  can spread from the cell thick area  30 D in the side portions  31   a  and  31   b . Accordingly, the corner portion  31   c  can be sufficiently filled up with the liquid crystal  35 , whereby generation of air bubbles can be suppressed in the corner portion  31   c . Furthermore, the width of the cell thick area can be changed by the longer side portions and the shorter side portions of the sides in accordance with the shape of the liquid crystal display device to be manufactured. 
     In addition, the shape of the cell thick area  30 D of the liquid crystal display device of Embodiment 4 may not be continuous, and a cell thick area  30 D 1  that is intermittent as represented in the liquid crystal display device  10 D 1  shown in  FIG. 9A  may be used. Furthermore, a cell thick area  30 D 2  having an oval shape as represented in the liquid crystal display device  10 D 2  shown in  FIG. 9B  may be used. 
     Embodiment 5 
     Next, a liquid crystal display device  10 E according to Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B . Only the formation pattern of a cell thick area  30 E of the liquid crystal display device  10 E according to Embodiment 5 is different from that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1. Thus, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the liquid crystal display device  10 E of Embodiment 5, the cell gap GE of the cell thick area  30 E is formed in a tilted shape so as to sequentially increase from the display region  33  side toward the sealing member  31  side. By employing such a configuration, the liquid crystal  35  can easily spread in the cell thick area  30 E. Accordingly, the efficiency of supply of the liquid crystal  35  to the corner portion  31   c  can increase. In addition, this shape may be a cell gap GE 1  so as to form a gentle curve shape as in the cell thick area  30 E 1  as represented in the liquid crystal display device  10 E 1  shown in  FIG. 9B . 
     Embodiment 6 
     Next, a liquid crystal display device  10 F according to Embodiment 6 will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10C and 10D . While the cell thick area of the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1 is formed on the array substrate, a cell thick area of a liquid crystal display device  10 F of Embodiment 6 is formed on the color filter substrate. The other configurations are common to those of the liquid crystal display device  10 A of Embodiment 1. Thus, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same configuration as that of the liquid crystal display device  10 A according to Embodiment 1, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the liquid crystal display device  10 F of Embodiment 6, a cell thick area  30 F is formed on a color filter substrate  25 . The cell thick area  30 F can be formed by arranging a groove portion  29   a  in an overcoat layer  29  that is formed on the color filter substrate  25 . According to the liquid crystal display device  10 F of Embodiment 6, the color filter substrate  25  located on the lower side can be used when the liquid crystal  35  is dropped. Accordingly, a substrate used for various liquid crystal display devices can be responded. 
     Furthermore, by forming the cell thick area  30 F 1  on both substrates  11  and  25  forming a pair as shown in  FIG. 10D , the liquid crystal  35  that arrives at the sealing member  31  can be increased by the cell thick area  30 F 1  formed on both the substrates when the both substrates are bonded together. Accordingly, the insertion of the liquid crystal into the sealing member  31  and generation of air bubbles in the corner portion  31   c  can be suppressed further. 
     In addition, the shape of the cell thick area formed on each of the substrates forming a pair can be changed. Accordingly, the time and the speed at which the liquid crystal spreads can be controlled by the shape of the cell thick area. Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be increased in accordance with the size and the shape of the liquid crystal display device. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.