Patent Publication Number: US-9904123-B2

Title: Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/251,613, filed Oct. 3, 2011, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese patent application No. 2010-261948, filed on Nov. 25, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device of fringe field switching (FFS) type. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In recent years, in substitution for a conventional cathode-ray tube, new display devices having a thin flat-type display panel using principles of liquid crystal, electroluminescence or the like have been frequently used. A liquid crystal display device which represents these new display devices has characteristics in that it can be driven with a low power voltage, in addition to its thinness and lightness. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between two substrates. One substrate is an array substrate forming a display area in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in matrix, and the other substrate is a color filter substrate. 
     In particular, in a thin film transistor (TFT)-type liquid crystal display device, a TFT which is a switching element is provided in each pixel on the array substrate, and each pixel is able to independently carry a voltage to drive a liquid crystal layer, thereby making it possible to achieve the display of high quality with little crosstalk. Each pixel includes a gate line (scan line) that controls ON/OFF of the TFT, and a source line (signal line) for inputting image data. Each pixel is typically formed in an area surrounded by the gate line and the source line. 
     An In-Plane switching (IPS)-type liquid crystal display device has one array substrate on which a plurality of pixel electrodes and common electrodes (opposed electrodes) are alternately arranged, so as to apply a substantially-horizontal electric field to the substrate surface for display. The IPS type liquid crystal display device has better view angle property compared with a typical Twisted Nematic (TN) type. However, the conventional IPS-type liquid crystal display device has a smaller light transmission rate compared with that of the typical TN type. 
     As a system in which this defect is improved, a fringe field switching (FFS) system has been suggested. The FFS-type liquid crystal display device is the system of achieving the display by applying a fringe electric field (an oblique electric field including both components of a horizontal electric field and a vertical electric field) to a liquid crystal layer. In the FFS-type liquid crystal display device, the pixel electrode and the common electrode are formed on one array substrate as is similar to the IPS system. However, the pixel electrode and the common electrode are overlapped with each other with an insulation film interposed therebetween. Typically, the lower electrode is a plate electrode (the lower electrode may be a plurality of branch-like electrodes). Furthermore the upper electrode includes a comb-tooth electrode including a plurality of branch electrode parts electrically connected in common, and gap parts therebetween. 
     Both of the comb-tooth electrode and the plate electrode are formed of transparent conductive films in the FFS system, thereby achieving particularly high light transmission rate. In the FFS system, a liquid crystal layer is driven by a fringe electric field between upper and lower electrodes, which makes it possible to drive a liquid crystal layer on a branch-like electrode part which is not a gap part of the comb-tooth electrode as well. The pixel electrode and the common electrode are formed of transparent conductive films, which can improve a light transmission rate compared with the IPS system in which light rarely transmits on the pixel electrode and the common electrode. 
     The FFS-type liquid crystal display device can be roughly divided into two structures. The first structure is that, on the array substrate, a common electrode which is a common potential is formed of a plate electrode arranged on the side of the lower layer, and a pixel electrode into which a pixel potential is written through a thin-film transistor is formed of a comb-tooth electrode arranged on a side of the upper layer (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication Nos. 2002-31812 and 2005-234525). The second structure is that, on the array substrate, a common electrode and a pixel electrode are opposite to the arrangement stated above. Specifically, the common electrode is formed of a comb-tooth electrode in the upper layer, and the pixel electrode is formed of a plate electrode in the lower layer (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-191669). Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-322869 discloses a structure in which one of the two electrodes of the plate electrode and the comb-tooth electrode is formed in the color filter substrate in place of the array substrate. 
     In the second structure stated above, a black matrix is typically arranged only in order to prevent color mixture of adjacent pixels. In other words, the black matrix having a width equal to or smaller than that of a source line is typically arranged on the source line. The reason that this structure can be employed is that it is possible to shield the electric field from the source line by arranging the comb-tooth electrode which is the common electrode on the source line while being overlapped with each other. In other words, this is because it is possible to prevent occurrence of a domain due to alignment disorder of liquid crystal due to an electric field from the source line. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-191669 described above discloses the structure that does not include the black matrix itself. By employing such a structure, even a part just beside the source line can contribute to the display, which can improve the light transmission rate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, the present inventors have found that, in the liquid crystal display device having the second structure of FFS type, the contrast decreases around the source line. In short, it is desired to increase the contrast in the recent liquid crystal display device. While described above is the problem in the source line, the similar problem may occur in a non-transparent conductive pattern formed in a display area. 
     The present invention has been made in view of the background described above. One object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device that are capable of improving contrast. 
     A first exemplary aspect of the present invention is a liquid crystal display panel including liquid crystal sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate, in which the first substrate includes: gate lines; source lines that are formed to cross the gate lines; switching elements that are arranged near the intersections of the gate lines with the source lines; pixel regions that are specified by the gate lines and the source lines, the pixel regions being arranged in matrices; transparent pixel electrodes that are connected to the switching elements; and a transparent common electrode that includes at least branch-like electrode parts and gap parts between the branch-like electrode parts, the transparent common electrode being arranged in an upper layer of the transparent pixel electrodes so that a predetermined area of the transparent common electrode is overlapped with the transparent pixel electrode with an insulating film interposed therebetween, the transparent common electrode being configured to drive the liquid crystal with the transparent pixel electrode. In plane view, a shading layer covers at least one part of a conductive pattern where a light leakage occurs in front view by an alignment defect of the liquid crystal near a non-permeable conductive pattern disposed in the display region at the time of black display, and has eaves more protruding than the conductive pattern. The transparent common electrode is provided so as to overlap with the conductive pattern overlapped with the light-shielding layer having the eaves in a side of the liquid crystal and to protrude compared with the light-shielding layer having the eaves in a planar view. 
     The present invention achieves the excellent effect that it can provide a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device that are capable of improving contrast. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not to be considered as limiting the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic plane view of a liquid crystal display panel according to a first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged schematic plane view showing a main part of a display area of an array substrate according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display panel according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display panel according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory view of alignment processing of the liquid crystal display panel according to the first exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a graph in which measured values of a black luminance in a frontal direction are plotted with respect to a distance D 1  of eaves of a black matrix on a source line; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic explanatory view for describing a cause of an increase in the black luminance; 
         FIG. 9  is electrode position dependent calculation data of a transmission rate at a time of white display; 
         FIG. 10  is a transmission rate from an end part of the black matrix to an edge part of a common electrode with respect to a distance D 2 ; 
         FIG. 11A  is an explanatory view of absorption axes of a lower-side polarizing plate and an upper-side polarizing plate seen from a frontal direction; 
         FIG. 11B  is an explanatory view of absorption axes of the lower-side polarizing plate and the upper-side polarizing plate seen from an oblique direction; 
         FIG. 12  is a graph in which contrast is plotted with respect to a polar angle; 
         FIG. 13A  is an explanatory view for describing the polar angle; 
         FIG. 13B  is an explanatory view for describing an azimuth angle; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display panel according to a second exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  is a graph in which contrast from a viewing direction of an azimuth angle of 45° and a polar angle of 45° is plotted with respect to a distance D 1  in the liquid crystal display panel according to the second exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged schematic plane view showing a main part of a display area of an array substrate according to a third exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described as an example. The size and the ratio of each element in the drawings are shown for the convenience of description, and are different from the actual ones. 
     First Exemplary Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic plane view for describing one example of a liquid crystal display panel mounted on a liquid crystal display device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel  100  of active matrix type in which an array substrate  1  which is a first substrate is arranged opposite to a color filter substrate  2  which is a second substrate with liquid crystal interposed therebetween. The array substrate  1  includes gate lines, source lines, TFTs, pixel electrodes, a transparent common electrode supplied with a reference potential and the like formed on a transparent substrate made of glass, plastic, or the like. The color filter substrate  2  includes a color filter, a black matrix which is a light-shielding layer and the like formed on a transparent substrate made of glass, plastic, or the like. 
     The liquid crystal display panel  100  includes a display area  3  which contributes to a display, and a frame area  4  which is provided in an outer periphery of the display area  3 . The frame area  4  includes gate line drive circuits  5  and source line drive circuits  6  mounted thereon by a Chip On Glass (COG) mounting technique. Further, in the end of the array substrate  1 , a plurality of terminals (not shown) are arranged. In order to supply various voltages, clocks, image data or the like to the gate line drive circuits  5  and the source line drive circuits  6 , the plurality of terminals are connected to flexible substrates  7  and  8  connected to an external circuit. Note that the gate line drive circuits  5  and the source line drive circuits  6  may be integrated into one drive circuit. Further, the flexible substrates  7  and  8  may be integrated into one flexible substrate. 
     The liquid crystal display device contains the liquid crystal display panel  100  structured as stated above, a backlight unit (not shown) which is a light source and the like in a housing. The backlight unit is typically arranged in a side opposite to a display surface. The display surface of the liquid crystal display panel  100  is contained so as to be viewed from inside the housing. 
     When an electric signal is externally input to the liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal display panel  100  as described above, a drive voltage is applied to transparent pixel electrodes  14  and a transparent common electrode  15 , which changes the direction of molecules of the liquid crystal according to the drive voltage. Then, light emitted from the backlight unit is interrupted or transmitted to an observer through the array substrate  1 , the liquid crystal, and the color filter substrate  2 , thereby achieving display of video or the like on the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged schematic plane view showing a main part of the display area  3  of the array substrate  1  according to the first exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line of  FIG. 2 . 
     The array substrate  1  includes a transparent substrate  51  made of glass, plastic, or the like, gate lines  11 , source lines  12 , common lines  13 , the transparent pixel electrodes  14  which are a plate electrode arranged in the side of the lower layer, and a transparent common electrode  15  which is a comb-tooth electrode arranged in the side of the upper layer. The array substrate  1  further includes TFTs  20 , gate electrodes  21 , source electrodes  22 , drain electrodes  23 , a gate insulating film  31 , a semiconductor film  32 , an ohmic contact film  33  and the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the gate line  11  extends in a lateral direction and a plurality of gate lines  11  are arranged in a vertical direction. The common line  13  is formed in parallel to the gate line  11  in the same layer as the gate line  11  (see  FIG. 2 ). The common line  13  serves to supply a reference potential to the transparent common electrode  15 . Each of the gate line  11  and the common line  13  can be formed of a single layer film of metal (e.g., Al, Cr, Mo, Ti, Ta, W, Ni, Cu, Au, Ag) or alloy thereof, or laminated films thereof. The gate insulating film  31  is formed in the upper layer of the gate lines  11  and the common lines  13 , and may be formed of an oxide film, a nitride film, or the like, for example. 
     The source line  12  is arranged to be perpendicular to the gate line  11  on the gate insulating film  31 . The source line  12  has a bending structure of a dog-leg shape extended in a vertical direction with a multi-domain pixel structure in order to deal with color shifting, and a plurality of source lines  12  are arranged in a lateral direction (see  FIG. 2 ). The source line  12  may be formed of a single layer film of metal (e.g., Al, Cr, Mo, Ti, Ta, W, Ni, Cu, Au, Ag) or alloy thereof, or laminated films thereof, for example. 
     The TFT  20  which serves as a switching element is arranged near the intersection of the gate line  11  with the source line  12 . In the TFT  20 , a part of the gate electrode  21  is arranged opposite to the source electrode  22  and the drain electrode  23  with the gate insulating film  31 , the semiconductor film  32 , and the ohmic contact film  33  interposed therebetween. The gate line  11  in which the TFT  20  is formed serves as the gate electrode  21 , and a part extending from the source line  12  in the TFT  20  serves as the source electrode  22 . The gate lines  11  and the source lines  12  form a plurality of pixel regions  9  arranged in matrices in the display area  3 . 
     The semiconductor film  32  is formed above the gate insulating film  31 . The ohmic contact film  33  is laminated onto the semiconductor film  32 , and is formed of a layer obtained by implanting impurities into the semiconductor film  32 , for example. The ohmic contact film  33  that is arranged between the source electrode  22  and the drain electrode  23  is removed, which serves as a channel part. The source electrode  22  and the drain electrode  23  are formed in the same layer as the source line  12 , and are formed on the ohmic contact film  33  so as to overlap thereon. 
     The transparent pixel electrode  14  is formed in the pixel region  9  in a plate shape (planar shape). The transparent pixel electrode  14  is formed of a transparent conductive film such as an indium tin oxide (ITO) film, or an indium zinc oxide (IZO) film. The transparent pixel electrode  14  is formed on the drain electrode  23  so as to be directly overlapped thereon for electrical connection. The transparent pixel electrode  14  may be formed in the lower layer of the drain electrode  23  for electrical connection, or may be formed in the upper layer of the drain electrode  23  through a contact hole for electrical connection. 
     A protection film  34  is formed in the upper layer of the source line  12 , the source electrode  22 , the drain electrode  23 , and the transparent pixel electrode  14 . The protection film  34  may be a single layer film of an insulating film (e.g., an oxide film, a nitride film, or an organic resin film), or may be laminated films thereof. 
     The transparent common electrode  15  is arranged opposite to the transparent pixel electrode  14  in a predetermined area with the protection film  34  interposed therebetween. The transparent common electrode  15  is formed of a transparent conductive film such as ITO, IZO, or the like. In the transparent common electrode  15 , branch-like electrode parts  18  electrically connected each other, slit-like gap parts  19  from which the transparent conductive film is removed, and a connection electrode part  17  connecting the branch-like electrode parts  18  are formed. The liquid crystal is driven by generating a fringe electrical field between the transparent common electrode  15  and the transparent pixel electrode  14 . 
     By covering substantially all of the gate line  11 , the source line  12 , the common line  13 , and the TFT  20  with the connection electrode part  17  and forming a lattice shape of the connection electrode part  17 , the resistance of the transparent common electrode  15  may further be lowered. Further, even when a part of the common line  13  is disconnected, the reference potential is supplied to the transparent common electrode  15  through the connection electrode part  17 , which can prevent a display defect and improve a yield. 
     Further, since the connection electrode part  17  covers the gate line  11 , the source line  12 , the common line  13 , and the TFT  20 , a leakage electric field to the liquid crystal layer can be shielded. As a result, the display defect due to the leakage electric field that tends to be generated near the gate line  11 , the source line  12 , the common line  13 , and the TFT  20  can be suppressed. 
     Note that the connection electrode part  17  is not limited to the structure above, but may be changed in various ways. For example, the connection electrode part  17  may be formed only on the gate line  11  and the source line  12 , and the branch-like electrode parts  18  of the adjacent pixel regions  9  may be connected each other. 
       FIG. 4  shows a schematic cross-sectional view near the source line  12  arranged in the display area  3  of the liquid crystal display panel  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment. For the sake of convenience of explanation,  FIG. 4  schematically shows only the elements needed for the explanation, and the transparent pixel electrode  14  and the like are not shown.  FIG. 4  corresponds to a view taken along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 . 
     The liquid crystal display panel  100  includes, as shown in  FIG. 4 , liquid crystal  50  held between the array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2 , transparent substrates  51  and  52 , a lower-side polarizing plate  53 , and an upper-side polarizing plate  54 . The lower-side polarizing plate  53  is arranged in an external principal surface of the array substrate  1 , and the upper-side polarizing plate  54  is arranged in an external principal surface of the color filter substrate  2 . Absorption axes of the upper-side polarizing plate  54  and the lower-side polarizing plate  53  are arranged so as to be perpendicular to each other. 
     The cell gap between the array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2  is set, e.g., as 2 to 5 μm. A color filter  41 , a black matrix  42 , an alignment film (not shown) and the like are arranged on the color filter substrate  2 . 
     The source lines  12  are formed on the array substrate  1 , as described above, and the transparent common electrode  15  which is a comb-tooth electrode is arranged in the upper layer of the source lines  12  so as to overlap with the source lines  12  with the protection film  34  interposed therebetween. The transparent common electrode  15  above the source lines  12  serves to shield the electric field from the source lines  12 . Further, an alignment film  61  is formed in the uppermost layer of the array substrate  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the black matrix  42  is arranged so as to overlap with the source line  12  in a plane view above the source line  12 . By providing the black matrix  42 , color mixture in the adjacent pixels can be prevented. In the first exemplary embodiment, the black matrix  42  is arranged only in a position described below so as to cover the upper part of the source line  12 . 
     The black matrix  42  includes eaves  43  having a distance D 1  on outer sides in a width direction of the source line  12 . In the first exemplary embodiment, the distance D 1  (overhanging amount) of the eaves  43  is set to be equal to or larger than 3.0 μm. In other words, the width of the black matrix  42  above the source line  12  is set to be larger than that of the source line  12  by 6.0 μm or larger. Note that it is not necessary that the both end parts of the eaves  43  arranged at both ends of the black matrix  42  in a width direction have the distance D 1 , but they may have different values. 
     The transparent common electrode  15  is arranged above the source line  12  so as to protrude with respect to the black matrix  42  in both ends in the width direction. Specifically, the widths of both end parts of the transparent common electrode  15  protrude compared to the end parts of the black matrix  42  by a distance D 2 . In the first exemplary embodiment, each end part of the transparent common electrode  15  protrudes (overhangs) compared to the black matrix  42  by 2.5 μm in both ends in the width direction. 
     Next, a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display panel  100  according to the first exemplary embodiment will be described. The array substrate  1  is manufactured by forming the TFT  20 , the transparent pixel electrode  14 , the transparent common electrode  15  and the like on one surface of a glass substrate by repeatedly using a pattern forming process including film forming, patterning by photolithography, etching and the like. The color filter substrate  2  is manufactured by forming the color filter  41  and the black matrix  42  on one surface of a glass substrate. 
     Next, processes before the array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2  are attached will be described. First, in a substrate cleaning process, the array substrate  1  on which the transparent pixel electrode  14  is formed is cleaned. Next, in an alignment film material applying process, an organic film or the like made of polyimide which is a material of an alignment film is applied on one surface of the array substrate  1  by a printing method, which is then subjected to sintering processing by a hot plate to dry this part. After that, alignment processing is performed on the manufacturing substrate on which the alignment film material is applied. The alignment processing is performed by rubbing the surface of the alignment film in a predetermined direction by rotating a rubbing roller in which a cloth made of nylon (registered trademark) or the like is rolled while pressing it at a predetermined pressure. Further, the alignment film of the color filter substrate  2  is similarly formed by performing processing including cleaning, application of an organic film, and alignment. 
       FIG. 5  shows a schematic plane view of element parts of the array substrate  1  of the liquid crystal display device according to the first exemplary embodiment. The array substrate  1  includes, as described above, the source lines  12  which are bended in a dog-leg shape. The transparent common electrode  15  also includes the branch-like electrode parts  18  and the gap parts  19  bended in a dog-leg shape in the same direction as the source lines  12 . 
     When the source lines are formed in a linear shape, the rubbing direction and the source lines can be made parallel to each other. In the first exemplary embodiment, it is advantageous for color shifting. The source line  12  has a dog-leg shape in the first exemplary embodiment, which cannot parallel the rubbing direction and the source line (see  FIG. 5 ). Accordingly, when the rubbing processing is performed, the rubbing roller  70  ascends or descends the step of the source line  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Next, in a sealant applying process to form sealant, resin which is sealant is applied to one surface of the array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2 . Thermosetting hard resin such as epoxy adhesive or ultraviolet hardening resin is used as the sealant, for example. 
     The array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2  manufactured according to the process above are arranged to be opposite to each other, and the pixels of the panels formed in the respective substrates are attached by being aligned to correspond with each other. The curing processing is performed for curing the sealant to the array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2  attached in the above way. This process is performed, for example, by applying heat or irradiating it with ultraviolet rays according to the material of the sealant. 
     Next, a thinning polishing process and the like are performed on the transparent substrate by chemical polishing using chemicals and physical polishing to polish the substrate with an abrasive as needed. Next, in a cell dividing process, the attached substrate is divided into separate cells corresponding to each of the liquid crystal display panels  100 . After the cell dividing process, a liquid crystal implanting process to implant liquid crystal from a liquid crystal inlet is performed in vacuum. Further, in a sealing process, by applying photocurable resin to a liquid crystal inlet and irradiating it with light, the liquid crystal inlet is sealed. 
     Next, in a polarizing plate attaching process, a polarizing plate is attached to the outside of the array substrate  1  and the color filter substrate  2 . Subsequently, in a control substrate mounting process, a control substrate is mounted, which completes the liquid crystal display panel  100 . After that, the liquid crystal display panel  100  and the backlight unit are embedded and held in a housing, which completes the liquid crystal display device. Note that the manufacturing method is merely an example, and is not limited to the method stated above. 
       FIG. 7  shows a correlation diagram in which measured values of a luminance at the time of black display in a frontal direction (hereinafter referred to as “black luminance”) are plotted with respect to the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42  on the source line  12 . The sample in which the distance D 1  is in the range of 0 μm to 15 μm is manufactured to perform evaluation. Note that the graph of  FIG. 7  standardized the black luminance of the following conditions for 1. That is, it is the condition that the source wire  12  and the black matrix  42  have the same width and overlap each other in a plane view (i.e., the condition that does not provide the eaves  43  to the black matrix  42 ). Further, each bending angle of the source lines  12 , the branch-like electrode part  18  and the gap part  19  of the transparent common electrode  15  in the sample is set as about 10°. 
     It is shown in  FIG. 7  that the black luminance can be suppressed by arranging the eaves  43  in the black matrix  42 . Larger value of the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  means higher effect of the suppression of the black luminance. Further, it is shown in  FIG. 7  that the gradient of the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  changes when the distance D 1  reaches 3.0 μm. In short, a change point exists at the distance D 1  of 3.0 μm. More specifically, when the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  is smaller than 3.0 μm, the gradient is large, which means it is possible to obtain higher effect of decreasing the black luminance with respect to the increase amount of the distance D 1  of the eaves  43 . On the other hand, when the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  is 3.0 μm or larger, the gradient is smaller than the former case, which means the effect of decreasing the black luminance with respect to the increase amount of the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  is smaller than the former case. 
     When the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  is smaller than 3.0 μm, it can be estimated that the black luminance increases due to both of a light leakage (see  FIG. 8 ) by the alignment defect of the liquid crystal  50  beside the source line  12  and a light leakage of light-scattering components due to thermal fluctuation of the liquid crystal  50  in the color filter opening part. On the other hand, when the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  is 3.0 μm or larger, it can be estimated that the black luminance increases only due to the light leakage of light-scattering components due to the thermal fluctuation of the liquid crystal  50  in the color filter opening part. 
     It is experimentally confirmed that the area with the alignment defect near the source line  12  influences on the black luminance. The reason why the light leakage occurs due to the alignment defect of the liquid crystal  50  beside the source line  12  is that, since the step of the source line  12  is typically equal to or larger than 0.1 μm, the defect of the alignment film tends to occur in this area. The defect of the alignment film  61  is considered to occur since the rubbing cloth rolled in the rubbing roller cannot rub the step part of the source line  12  in the similar way as in other areas due to the step of the source line  12 , and the liquid crystal cannot be aligned in a desired direction. As a result, the alignment defect easily occurs and the black luminance tends to increase in the liquid crystal beside the source line  12 . When metal like chrome is used as a conventional common electrode, the alignment defect near the source line is shielded by lines. In this case, such a phenomenon did not occur. 
     As is clear from  FIG. 7 , by arranging the eaves  43 , the increase in the black luminance can be suppressed. The first reason is that the presence of the eaves  43  leads to suppression of the increase in transmission light components due to the alignment defect in the liquid crystal  50  beside the source line  12  (areas shown in A 1  in  FIG. 4 ). The second reason is that the presence of the eaves  43  can prevent the light leakage due to dynamic light-scattering components caused by the thermal fluctuation. 
     However, an excessive increase in the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42  leads to a decrease in the opening ratio. This may decrease the white luminance and reduce the contrast. In other words, the contrast can be improved by preventing the white luminance from being greatly decreased. The present inventors have made further examination of the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42  to decrease the reduction degree of the white luminance. 
       FIG. 9  shows electrode position dependent calculation data of the transmission rate when the white display is performed. The calculation is performed using a commercially available simulator (Sintech, Inc.: LCD-Master). It is apparent from  FIG. 9  that the transmission rate becomes high in the vicinity of the edge parts of the transparent common electrode  15 . It is thus understood that the decrease in the white luminance can be suppressed by preventing the edge parts of the transparent common electrode  15  from being shielded by the black matrix  42 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a transmission rate from the end part of the black matrix  42  to the edge part of the transparent common electrode  15  with respect to the distance D 2 . In the graph shown in  FIG. 10 , the transmission rate when the distance D 2  from the end part of the black matrix  42  to the edge part of the common electrode  15  is 5 μm is specified as 1. 
     It is clear from  FIG. 10  that the white luminance can be improved by ensuring the distance D 2  from the end part of the black matrix  42  to the edge part of the transparent common electrode  15 . In particular, it is clear that the contrast can be improved more efficiently by setting the distance D 2  as 2.5 μm or larger. 
     According to the first exemplary embodiment, the transparent conductive film is used as both of the transparent pixel electrode  14  and the transparent common electrode  15 , thereby capable of providing a liquid crystal display device of FFS type with high transmission rate. Further, according to the first exemplary embodiment, it is only required to change the mask for forming the transparent common electrode and the light-shielding layer, which does not require introduction of new equipments. It has further advantage that the number of process steps does not increase. 
     Further, according to the first exemplary embodiment, by providing the black matrix  42  overlapped with the source line  12  and providing the eaves  43  at both end parts in the width direction of the black matrix  42 , the increase in the black luminance in the frontal direction can be suppressed. Further, since the transparent common electrode  15  is arranged above the source line  12  to project at both end parts in the width direction compared with the black matrix  42 , the reduction in the white luminance can be suppressed. This is because the high transmission part of the edge parts of the transparent common electrode  15  are prevented from being shielded. As a result, the contrast can be improved. 
     In addition, according to the first exemplary embodiment, the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42  is set to be 3.0 μm or larger. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the increase in the black luminance more efficiently. Further, the distance D 2  from the edge part of the transparent common electrode  15  to the end part of the black matrix  42  is set as 2.5 μm or larger. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the white luminance more efficiently. As a result, the contrast can be improved more efficiently. 
     When the source line is formed in a non-linear shape such as a dog-leg shape, the rubbing direction and the source line cannot be made parallel, which tends to generate the alignment defect of the liquid crystal beside the source line. The present invention is especially effective for such a configuration. 
     When the disorder of the alignment of the liquid crystal near the gate line  11 , the common line  13 , and the TFT  20  becomes a problem, the black matrix can be provided also above these lines to provide the eaves. For example, when a structure of top-gate type is employed, the black matrix may be provided to cover the gate line at least above the gate line, and the eaves may be provided in both end parts of the black matrix. The similar configuration may be employed for the common line. 
     Described above is the example in which the bending angle of the source line  12  and the transparent common electrode  15  is 10°. This is merely an example, however, and the bending angle may be any desired value. Further, described above is the example in which one bending structure is formed in the source line  12  arranged between the two pixel regions  9 . However, a plurality of bending structures may be formed. Further, the bending shape may be designed in a desired way. Furthermore, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to the one in which the source line  12  has a linear shape. The bending structure may be provided in the side of the gate line instead of the source line. 
     Second Exemplary Embodiment 
     Next, one example of a liquid crystal display device having a structure different from that of the first exemplary embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same element members as those in the first exemplary embodiment are denoted by the same reference symbols, and its description will be omitted as appropriate. 
     Described in the second exemplary embodiment is one example of the liquid crystal display device that aims to improve contrast from an oblique direction in addition to contrast from a frontal direction. 
       FIG. 11A  is an explanatory view of absorption axes of a lower-side polarizing plate  53  and an upper-side polarizing plate  54  seen from a frontal direction, and  FIG. 11B  is an explanatory view of absorption axes of the lower-side polarizing plate  53  and the upper-side polarizing plate  54  seen from an oblique direction. When the liquid crystal display panel is seen from the frontal direction, the angle of the absorption axes of the lower-side polarizing plate  53  and the upper-side polarizing plate  54  is 90° as shown in  FIG. 11A , whereas the angle of the absorption axes of the lower-side polarizing plate  53  and the upper-side polarizing plate  54  seen from the oblique direction is larger than 90° as shown in  FIG. 11B . 
       FIG. 12  shows a graph in which contrast is plotted with respect to a polar angle. The one that does not have the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42 , which means the one in which the black matrix  42  and the source line  12  are substantially overlapped (D1=0), and the one in which the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42  is 5 μm are manufactured and used as samples. The polar angle here means, as shown in  FIG. 13A , an angle between the viewing direction and the normal direction of the polarizing plate. Further, an azimuth angle that will be mentioned later means, as shown in  FIG. 13B , an angle between the direction in which the viewing direction is projected to the upper-side polarizing plate  54 , and the absorption axis of the upper-side polarizing plate  54 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , with increasing the polar angle (with increasing the oblique view), it is understood the light leakage increases and the contrast decreases. More specifically, it is empirically confirmed that, at the azimuth angle 45°, when the angle is an oblique view of the polar angle of 30° or larger, the light leakage due to the oblique view is larger than the light leakage due to the alignment defect near the source line  12 , which loses the effect of the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42 . 
     The present inventors have thus examined the structure to increase the contrast not only in the frontal direction but also in the oblique view. As a result, it is turned out that the light leakage due to the polarizing plate can be suppressed by adding a two-axis phase difference film between the polarizing plate (polarizer) and the liquid crystal. Note that a polarizing plate with a two-axis phase difference film may be used. In this case, the polarizer is arranged in the outer side. 
       FIG. 14  shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the second exemplary embodiment. A liquid crystal display panel  100   a  includes a lower-side polarizing plate  53 , and an upper-side polarizing plate  54 . A two-axis phase difference film  55  is arranged between the lower-side polarizing plate  53  and the transparent substrate  51  forming the array substrate  1 . Further, a two-axis phase difference film  56  is arranged between the upper-side polarizing plate  54  and the transparent substrate  52  forming the color filter substrate  2 . In the second exemplary embodiment, a polarizing plate with NAZ film Nz=0.3, Δnd=180 nm manufactured by Nitto Denko Corporation is used as the two-axis phase difference film  55  and the lower-side polarizing plate  53 , and the two-axis phase difference film  56  and the upper-side polarizing plate  54 . Needless to say, it is not limited to this, but other two-axis phase difference films may be preferably used. 
     The light leakage due to the alignment defect near the source line  12  is the dominant factor of the black luminance from the oblique direction, which gives an adverse effect. Thus, the correlation of the contrast and the distance D 1  of the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42  is examined also for the black luminance of the oblique direction view. 
       FIG. 15  shows a graph in which the relative contrast from a viewing direction of the azimuth angle of 45°, polar angle of 45° is plotted with respect to the distance D 1  in the liquid crystal display device of the second exemplary embodiment. As a result, it is confirmed that the contrast in the direction of the oblique view can be improved by adding the two-axis phase difference films  55  and  56  and providing the eaves  43  of the black matrix  42 . Further, it is turned out that the contrast in the oblique direction can be improved with more efficiency by setting the distance D 1  as 2.5 μm or larger. 
     According to the second exemplary embodiment, it is possible to achieve the improvement of the contrast not only in the frontal direction but also in the oblique direction by adding the two-axis phase difference film between the polarizing plate and the liquid crystal. 
     Described in the second exemplary embodiment is the example in which two two-axis phase difference films are provided. However, the similar effect as that described above can be obtained also by providing the two-axis phase difference film only in one of the upper-side polarizing plate  54  and the lower-side polarizing plate  53 . 
     Third Exemplary Embodiment 
     A basic structure of a liquid crystal display device according to a third exemplary embodiment is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment except the following point. The third exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment in that source lines and a transparent common electrode are made in a linear shape. 
       FIG. 16  shows a schematic plane view of a main part of an array substrate  1   b  of the liquid crystal display device according to the third exemplary embodiment. The array substrate  1   b  includes a source line  12   b  that is formed in a linear shape. Further, as is similar to the source line  12   b , a transparent common electrode  15   b  includes branch-like electrode parts  18   b  and gap parts  19   b  which are made in a linear shape. 
     It is considered that the reason why the light leakage occurs due to the alignment defect of the liquid crystal  50  beside the source line  12   b  is that, since the step of the source line  12   b  is typically 0.1 μm or larger, the defect of the alignment film easily occurs in the area. The defect of the alignment film  61  is considered to occur since the rubbing cloth rolled in the rubbing roller cannot rub the step part in the similar way as in other areas due to the step of the source line  12   b , and the liquid crystal cannot be aligned in a desired direction. As a result, the alignment defect easily occurs and the black luminance tends to increase in the liquid crystal beside the source line  12 . 
     According to the third exemplary embodiment, the same effect as that in the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained. In particular, when the step of the source line is large, the condition at the time of rubbing is different between the neighborhood of the step structure and other areas, which easily causes the alignment defect of the liquid crystal. The present invention is particularly effective in such a structure. 
     Note that the liquid crystal display panel and the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention are not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but may be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the above first exemplary embodiment to the third exemplary embodiment may be suitably combined. 
     Described in the exemplary embodiments above is an example of providing the transparent common electrode and the black matrix on the source lines. However, it is not limited to the source line. A transparent common electrode and a black matrix having the following structures can be applied to the conductive pattern in the display area  3  in which the light leakage occurs due to the alignment defect of the liquid crystal. Specifically, a light-shielding layer provided to overlap with the conductive pattern in a planar view and including eaves protruding compared with the conductive pattern may be formed. The transparent common electrode may be arranged to cover the conductive pattern and to protrude compared to the light-shielding layer. By applying these structures, the similar effect as that in the exemplary embodiments above can be obtained. The conductive pattern includes, for example, a gate line, a common line, and a TFT. 
     When the gate lines are arranged above the source lines (e.g., top-gate type), the transparent common electrode and the black matrix as described above are arranged on the gate lines, thereby achieving the similar effect as that in the exemplary embodiments described above. 
     The transparent common electrode which is the comb-tooth electrode may at least have a gap part and a branch-like electrode part, and it may have any shape. The shape of the source line and the gate line is merely an example, and various other shapes may be used. 
     Further, although described above is the example of rubbing the alignment film, the present invention is not limited to the alignment processing method by the rubbing processing but the alignment processing may be performed by other processing like a photo-alignment method. Further, the transparent conductive film is not limited to ITO, IZO, and various materials can be used. 
     Although the example of the black matrix has been described as the light-shielding layer, other materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention as long as it has a light-shielding function. A parallax barrier or the like may be used as the light-shielding layer. Further, the arrangement of the light-shielding layer is not particularly limited. For example, the light-shielding layer may be provided on the external principal surface of the color filter substrate or may be provided on the side of the array substrate. 
     From the invention thus described, it will be obvious that the exemplary embodiments of the invention may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended for inclusion within the scope of the following claims.