Abstract: A photo-resist mask of organic compound is stripped off after the pattern transfer to a layer thereunder, wherein the photo-resist mask is firstly exposed to vapor of organic solvent for reducing the thickness through a reflow, and, thereafter, the photo-resist mask is ashed in an oxygen plasma, whereby the dry ashing is completed within a short time period by virtue of the reduction of thickness.

Abstract: A pair of dummy orientation film patterns are provided for an orientation film used for aligning LC molecules in an LCD device. For a rubbing treatment of the orientation film, a rubbing cloth is cleaned by one of the dummy orientation film patterns before rubbing the orientation film, and also cleaned by the other of the dummy orientation film patterns after rubbing the orientation film thereby preparing next rubbing treatment for the next LCD device. The dummy orientation film pattern has a thickness larger than the thickness of the orientation film.

Abstract: An active matrix liquid crystal display device which has color filters disposed on a TFT (Thin-Film Transistor) substrate, and which reduces the effect of light leakage regions over data lines for an increased viewing angle. The liquid crystal display device has the data lines disposed on the TFT substrate at respective gaps between adjacent two of pixel electrodes, for supplying data signals to TFTs to drive pixel electrodes, and a black matrix disposed on the TFT substrate in association with the data lines for blocking light passing in a predetermined viewing angle range through a light leakage region created in the liquid crystal layer depending on a potential difference between adjacent two of the pixel electrodes.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided which has low power consumption, and which prevents horizontal stripes from occurring without the circuitry becoming more complex. When the write voltage polarity is inverted every plurality of lines, in the n line where the polarity is inverted, the rise in the drain line waveform dulls due to the charging of the drain line. In the n+1 line, because the drain line has been charged by the writing of the n line, waveform dullness does not occur. A difference between the write states in the two lines causes horizontal stripes. Consequently, the output enable signal is activated at the rise of the clock signal, and the gate line is activated after a predetermined time to start the writing. Therefore, writing is not performed during the period of waveform dullness, and the write state is the same across all scan lines.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display is provided which has low power consumption, and which prevents horizontal stripes from occurring without the circuitry becoming more complex. When the write voltage polarity is inverted every plurality of lines, in the n line where the polarity is inverted, the rise in the drain line waveform dulls due to the charging of the drain line. In the n+1 line, because the drain line has been charged by the writing of the n line, waveform dullness does not occur. A difference between the write states in the two lines causes horizontal stripes. Consequently, the output enable signal is activated at the rise of the clock signal, and the gate line is activated after a predetermined time to start the writing. Therefore, writing is not performed during the period of waveform dullness, and the write state is the same across all scan lines.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a display panel includes a first step, a second step which is to be carried out immediately before the first step, and a third step which is to be carried out immediately after the first step. The first step takes longer time to be carried out per a display panel than those of the second and third steps. The number of display panels to be processed in the first step is greater than both the number of display panels having been processed in the second step and the number of display panels to be introduced into the third step.

Abstract: A photosensitive film pattern formed through only one photolithography step and having difference in film thickness is formed utilizing difference in amount of light emitted to the photosensitive film on a film to be etched, and the film to be etched is etched two times to form plural patterns therein by utilizing the difference in film thickness of the photosensitive film pattern, thereby reducing the number of whole manufacturing process steps. In this case, at the time of etching and removing thin photosensitive film out of the photosensitive film pattern, the upper layer of thick photosensitive film out of the photosensitive film pattern has already been modified to a silica film nearly free from being affected by dry-etching, and therefore, the thick photosensitive film can maintain its planar shape nearly equal to that of the thick photosensitive film before etching the thin photosensitive film.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a TFT panel of an LCD device includes the steps of wet etching a multilayer metallic structure including a high-melting-point metal film (HMPM) film, Al film and another HMPM film while using side etching technique by using a photoresist mask, hot-water washing the side walls of the Al film after the wet etching, and dry etching for configuring the channel region of a TFT in each pixel, and removing the photoresist mask. The presence of the photoresist mask and the protection film prevents corrosion of Al caused by plasma of the etching gas in the dry etching.

Abstract: An in-plane switching type liquid crystal display device includes (a) a first film composed of inorganic material, (b) a second film composed of organic material, both of the first and second films being to be formed below an electrode as underlying films, (c) a first vernier formed on the first film for measuring a width of the electrode, and (d) a second vernier formed on the second film for measuring a width of the electrode.

Abstract: An active matrix type liquid crystal display device includes (a) a transparent substrate, (b) a plurality of scanning lines formed on the transparent substrate, (c) a plurality of signal lines formed on the transparent substrate perpendicularly to the scanning lines, (d) a transparent electrode arranged in a pixel area defined by the scanning and signal lines, and (e) a thin film transistor formed in association with the transparent electrode, the thin film transistor being formed in an area at which one of the scanning lines and one of the signal lines intersect with each other, the thin film transistor including source and drain regions both comprised of an electrically conductive film of which the signal lines are comprised.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film transistor, includes the steps of (a) forming a gate electrode on an electrically insulating substrate, (b) forming a gate insulating film on the electrically insulating substrate, covering the gate electrode therewith, (c) forming a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating film above the gate electrode, (d) forming source and drain electrodes both making electrical contact with the semiconductor layer, (e) patterning the semiconductor layer into a channel, (f) applying first plasma to the semiconductor layer through the use of a first gas, and (g) applying second plasma to the semiconductor layer through the use of a second gas, and (h) forming an electrically insulating film covering the semiconductor layer therewith.

Abstract: In an LCD, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a projection 6 is structured on top of insulation layer 8 on a TFT glass substrate 10 and under part of a back matrix 9. The projection 6 encircles the transparent region in each pixel so that a spacer 17 cannot climb over the projection 6 and enter the transparent region even though a certain pressure is applied onto the substrates 10 and 11. The width of the projection 6 is equal to or less than the diameter of the spacer 17. The height of the projection 6 is equal to or longer than approximately 1% the length of the diameter of the spacer 17, and it is preferable that it be equal to or longer than approximately 2%.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device having uniform feedthrough voltage components. The LCD device comprises a LCD panel and a backlight portion for illuminating the LCD panel from the backside. The LCD panel has: a plurality of pixels which are disposed in a matrix having rows and columns and each of which has at least a thin film transistor (TFT) and a pixel electrode; a plurality of gate signal lines which extend from a gate signal input portion disposed along a side of the liquid crystal display panel and each of which is coupled with the TFT's in a row of the matrix; and auxiliary capacitor portions each additionally coupled with a pixel electrode of one of the pixel. The width of the gate signal line becomes narrower and thereby capacitance of the auxiliary capacitor portions becomes smaller as the distance from the gate signal input portion becomes larger. Also, luminance of backlight by the backlight portion becomes lower as the distance from the gate signal input portion becomes larger.

Abstract: A photo-resist mask of organic compound is stripped off after the pattern transfer to a layer thereunder, wherein the photo-resist mask is firstly exposed to vapor of organic solvent for reducing the thickness through a reflow, and, thereafter, the photo-resist mask is ashed in an oxygen plasma, whereby the dry ashing is completed within a short time period by virtue of the reduction of thickness.

Abstract: A first substrate in a liquid crystal display device including the first substrate on which a thin film transistor is fabricated, a second substrate spaced away from and facing the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the first and second substrates, wherein an externally incident light is reflected towards a viewer to display images, includes (a) an electrically insulating substrate, (b) a plurality of projections formed on the electrically insulating substrate for scattering reflected light, (c) a first electrically insulating film covering the projections therewith, (d) a light-reflecting film formed on the first electrically insulating film, (e) a second electrically insulating transparent film formed on the light-reflecting film, and (f) a pixel electrode formed on the second electrically insulating transparent film.

Abstract: A VA (Vertical Aligned) type active-matrix liquid crystal display capable of stabilizing a boundary position between divided areas (alignment areas). The liquid crystal display comprises a TFT (thin film transistor) substrate including a pixel electrode provided for each pixel and a driving element such as a TFT provided for each pixel electrode, an opposite substrate disposed opposite to the TFT substrate and including an opposite electrode, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the opposite substrate. Each pixel electrode has a recess in groove shape formed therein. The pixel electrode preferably has a generally rectangular shape. The recess is provided such that it extends from one of a pair of opposite sides of the pixel electrode to the other to divide the pixel electrode into two parts.

Abstract: An error diffusing circuit modifies input video data signals representative of the gray levels of 8-bit gradation to output video data signals representative of the gray levels of 6-bit gradation, and an initial value generator produces an initial value for each of the first video data signals on each line of a frame, wherein the initial value generator varies the initial value depending upon the combination of a frame number, a line number and the color so that any pattern is not unintentionally produced on the display panel.

Abstract: A reflection-type liquid crystal display according to the invention includes two glass substrates, a transparent electrode provided on one glass substrate, an insulator film which is provided on another glass substrate and on which an uneven structure is formed, a reflecting electrode provided on the insulator film, and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between a side of the transparent electrode and a side of the reflecting electrode. The insulator film includes a first insulating layer in which a large number of depressions isolated as surrounded by protrusions are irregularly arranged and a second insulating layer covering the insulating layer entirely. The protrusions are all connected in a network, so that if some of these protrusions have weaker adherence with an underlying layer, they can be supported by the surrounding protrusions.

Abstract: In a portable data terminal or information processing equipment, a liquid crystal module as a display unit is built-in a cover. Projected portions are disposed at upper and lower edges of the liquid crystal module to be projected in the direction parallel to its display face. Trough-holes are formed in these projected portions in the manner that the holes extend through the portions in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal module. Screw members are inserted into the through-holes from the side of the display face, and tightened to a bottom plate, to connect the bottom plate and an outside frame. This makes it possible to make the cover on which the liquid crystal module is mounted compact.

Abstract: A combined wet etching method for stacked films which is capable of performing etching processes in a collective manner while controlling an amount of side-etching on each of stacked films and of making uniform side edges. In the wet etching method, two or more types of etching methods are performed in combination, on stacked films containing first and second films being deposited sequentially on a substrate and each having a different film property. The two or more types of wet etching methods include, at least, a first wet etching method in which side-etching on the first film is facilitated more than side-etching on the second film and a second wet etching method in which side-etching on the second film is facilitated more than side-etching on the first film.