Abstract: A liquid crystal display cell, and a fabricating method thereof, that incorporates a light-cured monomer in a ferroelectric liquid crystal. By injecting the light-cured monomer/ferroelectric liquid crystal between substrate while in a nematic phase or isotropic phase, by performing DC voltage treatments as the liquid crystal temperature decreases, and by performing a light irradiation treatment, a stable, aligned ferroelectric liquid crystal cell is produced. Such a ferroelectric liquid crystal cell can reduce flicker and can be realigned after a physical shock.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel includes preparing first and second substrates having an active region, forming a sealant along a periphery of the active region on at least one of the first and second substrates, dispersing a liquid crystal material on the at least one substrate, the liquid crystal material having a photo-reactant material, attaching the first and second substrates, and irradiating ultraviolet light on an entire surface of the at least one substrate.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display (LCD) device of the invention includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer; a liquid crystal layer sandwiched by the substrate and the dielectric layer; a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes formed on a surface of the substrate facing the liquid crystal layer to extend in parallel with a first direction; and a plurality of stripe-shaped plasma channels formed to face the plurality of electrodes with the liquid crystal layer and the dielectric layer therebetween to extend in parallel with a second direction different from the first direction. The dielectric layer or an alignment layer formed on a surface of the dielectric layer facing the liquid crystal layer selectively attenuates ultraviolet rays emitted from the plasma channels.

Abstract: A method of controlling an ultraviolet (UV) glue size for liquid crystal display (LCD) devices includes using a frame seal or a patterned device layer as a size-controlling material. At first, a pixel electrode matrix structure is formed on a substrate. A frame seal material is then provided along the periphery of the pixel electrode matrix structure and a size-controlling material is provided. The size-controlling material is harder than the UV glue. The size-controlling material is formed with a predetermined shape around a predetermined place in which a UV glue is formed using the predetermined place as the center of the size-controlling material. The predetermined shape of the size-controlling material includes a U-shape, an arch-shape, a line-shape or a L-shape. Next, the UV glue is formed in the predetermined place, which is preferably the corners of the pixel electrode matrix structure.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element having liquid crystal droplets dispersed and held in a continuous matrix phase including polymer compound or a three dimensional network form of matrix including polymer compound dispersed between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode. The liquid crystal droplets are in all areas but for an area in the vicinity of the interfaces between the substrates. The liquid crystal droplets are ellipsoid of revolution forms of substantially the same size.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal (PDLC) display element comprising a complex of polymers and liquid crystal droplets held between a pair of substrates. The liquid crystal droplets are deformed into a compressed structure of their being contracted in a cell gap direction and an amount of deformation of the liquid crystal droplets is set to be in range in which a phenomenon of liquid crystal molecules rising up in the cell gap direction is not caused by excluded volume effects of the liquid crystals. The amount of deformation of the liquid crystal droplets, is set to be in range in which the phenomenon of liquid crystal molecules rising up in the cell gap direction is not caused by excluded volume effects of the liquid crystals can provide an increased tendency of the liquid crystal molecules to align in parallel to a phase boundary of the substrates. The DPLC display element having excellent threshold characteristics and scattering characteristics and high display characteristics can be achieved.

Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal display which comprises a first region including a display region, and a second region being outside the first region, wherein the first and second regions both contain liquid crystal in a polymer network, and a part of the polymer network of the second region is different in structure from the polymer network of the first region, and the part is present in the second region asymmetrically with respect to the first region, and a production method for a liquid crystal display, which comprises providing a liquid crystal material and a prepolymer material in a space between a pair of substrates at least one of which is transparent, and polymerizing the prepolymer material by scanning a first region including a display region and a second region outside the first region with a light beam which causes polymerization.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element according to the invention is structured such that a complex of polymer and liquid crystal droplets is held between a pair of substrates. The liquid crystal droplets are deformed into a compressed structure of their being contracted in a cell gap direction and an amount of deformation of the liquid crystal droplets is set to be in range in which a phenomenon of liquid crystal molecules rising up in the cell gap direction is not caused by excluded volume effects of the liquid crystals. This construction that the amount of deformation of the liquid crystal droplets is set to be in range in which the phenomenon of liquid crystal molecules rising up in the cell gap direction is not caused by excluded volume effects of the liquid crystals can provide an increased tendency of the liquid crystal molecules to align in parallel to a phase boundary of the substrates.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device of the invention comprises a transparent substrate 2 a transparent electrode 6 formed on the inner surface of the transparent substrate 2, an alignment layer 7 formed over the transparent electrode 6, a composite 5 formed over the alignment layer 7, and a transparent electrode 8 on the upper surface of the composite 5. The composite 5 comprises a transparent polymer 4 and a liquid crystal droplet 3. The liquid crystal droplet 3 is configured in a substantially hemispherical shape such that a bottom surface of the droplet is in contact with the alignment layer and the remaining surface excluding the bottom surface bulges towards an upper surface of the composite 5. The polymer 4 constitutes the other surface of the composite 5 such that the polymer 4 covers the hemispherical liquid crystal droplets 3. Thus, the invention achieves a liquid crystal display device in which one of the pair of substrates is eliminated and thereby the weight of the device is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A reflector of the present invention has irregularities on a surface thereof. In the reflector, a distribution of inclination angles of the surface is regulated such that a number of an inclination angle of the surface increases along with an increase of the inclination angle at least in the range from 0° to 4°. A reflective type liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer, a substrate and the reflector of the present invention. In the reflective type liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the substrate and the reflector.

Abstract: A method of making a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal display element including a phase separation step. The method calls for placing a liquid crystal polymer precursor compatible solution having a liquid crystal and a polymer precursor between a pair of substrates, each having an inside electrode, and irradiating a substrate surface with ultraviolet. The radiation causes a phase separation of the liquid crystal and the polymer precursor as well as polymerization and curing of the precursor. The method forms a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal having liquid crystal droplets dispersed and held in a continuous matrix phase or a three-dimensional network matrix.

Abstract: A liquid-crystal panel comprises a pair of transparent glass substrates each being provided with an electrode. Between the glass substrates are disposed spacers for defining a space and a mixture of droplets of a liquid crystal having a mean diameter of 3.0 &mgr;m or less and of a photo-curing polymer. The edge portions of the glass substrates are sealed with a seal polymer. In curing the photo-curing polymer during the process of manufacturing the liquid-crystal panel, the dose of an ultraviolet ray is set to 500 mJ/cm2 or more so as to reduce the diameters of the droplets of the liquid crystal, thereby preventing light leakage in the state without a voltage applied and improving the contrast. If the spacers are colored, the effect of preventing light leakage is increased.

Abstract: A dual frequency cholesteric display includes a pair of opposed substrates, wherein one of the substrates has a first plurality of electrodes facing a second plurality of electrodes on the other substrate. A dual frequency bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material is disposed between the substrates, wherein the material and the intersection of the first and second plurality of electrodes forms a plurality of pixels. By selectively applying high and low frequency voltages to the plurality of pixels, the high frequency voltage causes the material to exhibit one texture and the low frequency voltage causes the material to exhibit another texture. By adjusting a voltage amplitude value for each high and low frequency causes each pixel to exhibit a desired reflectance.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and an electro-optical device include substrates facing each other and each having an electrode, the substrates being spaced apart, spacers disposed between the substrates and defining an electro-optical cell together with the substrates, and a colloidal liquid crystal composite (CLCC) formed in the electro-optical cell. The CLCC includes particle-rich inter-domain regions and micro-domains of a mesogenic liquid crystal, and the particle-rich inter-domain regions include colloidal organic particles being networked in the mesogenic liquid crystal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of filling a PDLC cell, a polymerizable mixture suitable for this purpose as well as a display device provided with such a PDLC cell. The mixture in accordance with the invention comprises two types of non-volatile reactive monomers, the first type of monomer being readily miscible with liquid crystalline material and the second type of monomer being poorly miscible with the liquid crystalline material. Such mixtures prove to be very stable. In addition, when such mixtures are used in cells, problems regarding compositional drift do not occur. Cells in which the inventive mixture is used demonstrate a relatively low hysteresis as well as a relatively low switching voltage. By virtue thereof, it is very attractive to use these cells in a display device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display has a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal between transparent substrates, and a plurality of phase gratings are formed in the holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal so as to selectively reflect light components for the three primary colors.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device comprises a transparent first substrate having formed thereon a transparent electrode, a first filter having a first color, and a second filte having a second color. A second substrate is disposed opposite and spaced-apart from the first substrate. A reflection layer is disposed on the second substrate. A polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer is disposed between the transparent electrode and the reflection layer and is formed by exposure to an ultraviolet ray in a preselected wavelength range. A ratio of a transmissivity of the first filter for the ultraviolet ray to a transmissivity of the second filter for the ultraviolet ray is 3.0 or less.

Abstract: An in-plane switched liquid crystal device IPS LCD which provides fast switching times is formed by filling an empty IPS LCD panel having an array of display elements with a mixture of nematic liquid crystal material and a mesogenic polymerizable material, such as monomers or polymer precursers and suitable photoinitiators, curing, or cross-linking agents, and then polymerizing the mixture such that a phase-separated network of cross-linked polymer strands is formed. The cross-linked network of polymer strands displays an average orientation whose average orientation substantially conforms with nematic orientation of the nematic liquid crystal material in its “field-off” state.

Abstract: Monomers with photopolymerization characteristics and an initiator for polymerization are added to a liquid crystal composition having a ferroelectric liquid crystal phase (S5). In a state (S6) where coexist two domains which differ from each other in directions of molecular major axes in the ferroelectric liquid crystal phase, light is projected to the liquid crystal layer to form a polymer reticulate structure therein (S7). As a result, this state is made a stable one and the liquid crystal shows macroscopic switching behaviors among two states causing dark and bright displays respectively, and the above-described state causing halftone display.

Abstract: A liquid crystal element is equipped with at least one polarizer provided on a light entering side thereof, an insulating substrate on which transparent electrodes, a light reflecting member having a light reflecting surface on one side thereof, and a liquid crystal layer sealed between the insulating substrate and the reflecting member, in which liquid crystal molecules and liquid-crystalline polymers are both twist-aligned through a same angle. In the case of a dark display, incident light linearly polarized enters the liquid crystal layer, becoming circularly polarized light at the reflection surface, and after being reflected, when outgoing, the light becomes a linearly polarized light having a plane of polarization rotated through an angle of 90.degree. as compared with that of the incident light.

Abstract: Polymer/cholesteric liquid crystal dispersions are provided in which the liquid crystal phase separated from the polymer matrix to form droplets. The cholesteric liquid crystals were positive dielectric anisotropic. At a zero field condition, the liquid crystal in the droplets was bistable, that is, the liquid crystal can be in either the reflecting planar state or the scattering focal conic state. When the liquid crystal 101 was in the planar texture, the helical axis of the liquid crystal was more or less perpendicular to the cell surface; colored light 105 was Bragg reflected. When the liquid crystal 101 was in the focal conic texture, the helical axis was more or less parallel to the cell surface, incident light was scattering 106 in the forward direction.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal material comprising a polymer matrix, a liquid crystal and a diffusing agent.

Abstract: A liquid crystal optical element comprising a pair of substrates with electrodes and a liquid crystal/polymer composite material interposed between the pair of substrates wherein polymer which constitutes a polymer phase has a maximum value of 20.degree. C. or less in the temperature dependence of the loss dielectric constant (a frequency for measurement=100 Hz).

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates and a display medium interposed therebetween, the display medium including a liquid crystal region and a polymer wall surrounding the liquid crystal region. The display medium is formed by injecting between the substrates a mixed material containing a liquid crystal material and a resin material which includes at least photopolymerizable monomer, and irradiating said mixed material with light. A content y (%) of the resin material in the mixed material has a relationship,0.3*(100-x).ltoreq.y.ltoreq.(100-x)for a pixel aperture ratio x (%).

Abstract: This invention provides a liquid crystal display device including a display medium layer containing at least a liquid crystal material sandwiched between a pair of substrates. In this liquid crystal display device, at least one of the pair of substrates is a plastic substrate having first irregularities on a surface facing the display medium layer, and a polymer wall of a photocurable resin is formed in the display medium layer.

Abstract: A method for the loading and alignment of liquid crystal polymers in electro-optic and electro-active devices by in-situ polymerization between substrates of liquid crystal monomers. The molecular weight of the resulting liquid crystal polymer is controlled by the addition of a chain transfer reagent, for example, a thiol-containing compound which may be a liquid crystal material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer dispersion liquid crystal recording medium containing liquid crystals dispersed and fixed in resin, as well as to a method and an apparatus for reproducing information. In particular, when a medium as shown in FIG. 6 is used, the information recorded on the liquid crystal layer can be read with sufficient contrast by making the photoconductive layer (13) transparent to blue or ultraviolet light, and by making the wavelength of the reading light match the wavelength of the blue or ultraviolet light. When image reading is performed as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 7, a white light source is used as light source (4), and a filter (5) is placed between light source (4) and the liquid crystal medium (20); thus, only blue or ultraviolet light enters the liquid crystal medium. After passing through the liquid crystal medium (20), the light is converted to an electric signal by a photoelectric converter (6).

Abstract: A mixed material of liquid crystals and resin is dropped on at least one substrate in an amount greater than the amount needed to cover a display area for the LCD panel. The substrate is adhered to another substrate, and excess material is removed to the outside of a display area. The phase-separation of the liquid crystals and resin is carried out by irradiating light while pressure is added to at least one substrate, so that a liquid crystal display panel applied to a liquid crystal display device or a light shutter can be manufactured without applying a complex vacuum device.

Abstract: A polymer dispersed liquid crystal display device includes a top substrate and a bottom substrate. First electrodes are provided on the top substrate and second electrodes are provided on the bottom substrate. Orientation are provided on the top and the bottom substrates. The orientation films are respectively rubbed in predetermined directions. A polymer material, a liquid crystal material and a predetermined amount of a chiral agent are interposed between the top and bottom substrates. The polymer material is separated from the liquid crystal material through irradiation by ultraviolet rays. The liquid crystal material and polymer material have a mutually orientated and dispersed structure. The liquid crystal material has a predetermined twisting angle in a predetermined twist direction. As a result, light is scattered when substantially normal to the liquid crystal display device and the surface of the top substrate.

Abstract: A mixed material of liquid crystals and resin is dropped on at least one substrate in an amount greater than the amount needed to cover a display area for the LCD panel. The substrate is adhered to another substrate, and excess material is removed to the outside of a display area. The phase-separation of the liquid crystals and resin is carried out by irradiating light while pressure is added to at least one substrate, so that a liquid crystal display panel applied to a liquid crystal display device or a light shutter can be manufactured without applying a complex vacuum device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of electrode substrates at least one of which is transparent, a display medium having a liquid crystal region surrounded by a polymer region, and a plurality of pixels. The display medium is interposed between the pair of substrates. A difference between an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a phase transition temperature between a liquid crystal phase and an isotropic liquid phase of a liquid crystal composition constituting the liquid crystal region is 7.0.degree. C. or more.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprising:a pair of substrates having an electrode arrangement thereon;an orientation control means provided on at least one of said substrates; anda ferroelectric or antiferroelectric liquid crystal layer interposed between said substrates, said liquid crystal layer being uniaxially oriented by virtue of said orientation control means,wherein means for suppressing an orientation control effect of said orientation control means with respect to said liquid crystal layer is provided between said liquid crystal layer and said orientation control means.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel Polymer-Dispersed Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Display (PDF LCD). The active matrix LCD such as a TFT LCD, the solution of low response speed of nematic LCD, requires very high production costs. The FLCD utilizing ferroelectric liquid crystal exhibits highly rapid response speed, but results in an unstable structure, difficult fabrication, and incompetency of expressing gray scales. Meanwhile, the PD LCD exhibits a simple structure, wide viewing angle and high strength, but low contrast thereof disqualifies it for image displays. The present invention combines the PD LCD and FLCD, that is, droplets of ferroelectric liquid crystal are dispersed in a polymer matrix to include the merits and compensate for the shortcomings of each. As a result, there is provided a novel PDF LCD having very rapid response speed, resistance to external shock or heat, and high contrast.

Abstract: For use in the display screen of a teleconferencing system, a shutter capable of assuming alternative transparent and scattering states and a method of manufacture therefor. In one embodiment, the shutter includes a film of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) composition of a polymer and a liquid crystal material wherein the liquid crystal material makes up about 78% by weight of the film. The film is cured at a temperature ranging from about 32.degree. C. to about 38.degree. C., thereby decreasing the time it takes for the film to switch between the transparent and scattering states. The shutter further includes first and second layers of a transparent conductor for containing the film therebetween and driver circuitry, coupled to the film, for causing the film to have a response time equal to or less than 8 ms.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a pair of transparent substrates which consists of a driving side substrate and an opposite side substrate; transparent pixels formed in matrix on said driving side substrate; a first orientation film formed on said pixels; a transparent electrode formed on said opposite side substrate; a shielding layer provided at least on the periphery of each of said transparent pixels and at either between said driving side substrate and said transparent pixels or between said transparent pixels and said orientation film; said pair of transparent substrates being located opposite to each other to form a cell in which a mixture comprising a liquid crystal, a photosetting polymer precursor and its polymerization initiator is put and irradiated with a light outside said cell thereby curing said photosetting polymer precursor selectively at a region free from said transparent pixels and enrich the resulting cured resin at said region.

Abstract: To a bifunctional acrylurethane compound having acrylate groups at its both ends, which is a reaction product of polypropylene glycol, a mixture of 2,2,4-trimethyl-1, 6-diisocyanatohexane and 2,4,4-trimethy1-1, 6-diisocyanatohexane, and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, nematic liquid crystal and a photo-reaction initiator are mixed to obtain a uniformly dissolved mixture, and the mixture undergoes a phase separation treatment by photopolymerization to thereby form a liquid crystal/polymer composite material layer 7 which is utilized for a liquid crystal optical element 1. The phase separation by photo-polymerization improves controllability of the structure of the liquid crystal/polymer composite material layer.

Abstract: A method for forming a uniformly-spaced plastic substrate liquid crystal cell (100) includes the step of forming a cell with a liquid crystal-monomer mixture (150) disposed between upper and lower plastic substrates (111, 112). The cell (100) is then exposed to ultraviolet light (170) causing the monomer to be selectively polymerized to form support walls (108) between substrates (111, 112) of the cell in the light-intense areas. The monomer may be selectively polymerized by exposing the cell (100) through a mask (180, 188). The distance between the substrates (111, 112) is maintained before the walls (108) are formed by dispersing plastic ball spacers (114) between the substrates (111, 112). During exposure to the UV light, the substrates (111, 112) are sandwiched between substantially planar supports (182, 184) to maintain contact between the substrates (111, 112) and the spacers (114) and thus a uniform distance between the substrates (111, 112).

Abstract: Disclosed are a film composed of an oriented polymer matrix and a liquid crystalline compound contained therein. The oriented polymer matrix is generally formed by polymerization of a discotic compound having a polymerizable group and a liquid crystalline compound. Further, a process for preparation of the film and a liquid crystal display in which the film is employed as liquid crystal of a liquid crystal cell, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The liquid crystal display device of the invention includes; a pair of substrates disposed so as to be opposed to each other; and a display medium interposed between the pair of substrates, the display medium having liquid crystal regions comprising one or a plurality of pixels, and the liquid crystal regions being surrounded by polymer walls, wherein a number of substrate gap control materials which are disposed in a gap between the pair of substrates is larger in the polymer walls rather than in the liquid crystal regions.

Abstract: A polymerizable compound represented by Formula (I): ##STR1## where X is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; Y and Z are independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; l is an integer of 0 to 14; m and n are independently an integer of 0 or 1; R is represented by Formula (II), (III), or (IV); and when m=1, l.gtoreq.

Abstract: The UV crosslinking compound of the present invention is characterized in having the following chemical formula, and has high photosensitivity. Accordingly, the crosslinking reaction can be accomplished within a short period of time. Thus, if this compound is employed in the alignment film for a LCD component, it becomes possible to carry out a sufficient alignment treatment with UV irradiation over a short period of time. Accordingly, production time can be shortened and production costs reduced. ##STR1## wherein, n is an integer, and X is an atom selected from among F, Cl, Br, I and CN.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel having a polymer/liquid crystal composite film (PDLCD panel). The method includes the steps of preparing an upper substrate including active circuit portions having a pixel electrode and a TFT element and a capacitor, preparing a lower substrate including a black matrix, a color filter and common electrodes, joining the upper and lower substrates with a spacer to define a cell gap therebetween, injecting a composition comprising a liquid crystal, a UV curable monomer, a photo-curing initiator and a UV absorbent into the gap, and illuminating the composition with UV light.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal cell, a distance between substrates is fixed to be prevented from increasing without adversely affecting an orientation of liquid crystal material. An adverse effect of undesired charge within a liquid crystal layer is removed to stabilize optical characteristics. A mixture of the liquid crystal material and non-cured resin (i.e., resin forming material and reaction starter) is injected between light-transmissive substrates which form the liquid cell. The non-cured resin is precipitated into the interior of the cell, and the liquid crystal material is orientated. Thereafter, the reaction starter is opened or torn so that the resin is cured to thereby bond the two substrates together with the resin in the form of columns. In this case, the undesired charge within the liquid crystal layer is canceled by the curing effect of the resin concomitant with the opening or tearing of the reaction starter.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes: a pair of substrates disposed so as to oppose each other, at least one of the pair of substrates being transparent; electrodes formed on an inside face of each of the pair of substrates; and a display medium for displaying an image, the display medium being divided into at least one liquid crystal region composed essentially of ferroelectric liquid crystal and a polymer region composed essentially of liquid crystalline polymer, and the display medium being controlled by applying a voltage to the electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid crystal display provided with an optical compensatory sheet comprising an optically anisotropic layer which has negative birefringence and comprises a polymer having a discotic structure in its molecule, and an optical compensatory sheet which comprises a transparent support, an orientation layer provided thereon and the optically anisotropic layer provided on the orientation layer. Further, a process for preparation of the optical compensatory sheet and a liquid crystal composition which is useful as material for preparing the optical compensatory sheet are also disclosed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a dispersion type liquid crystal electro-optical device comprising liquid crystal droplets of uniform size without impairing the scattering properties. The present invention realizes a liquid crystal electro-optical device having excellent scattering properties which is achieved by increasing or decreasing the fraction of the organic constituent of the light-transmitting resin material without changing the amount of the liquid crystal and the number and density of the liquid crystal droplets so that the light scattering properties of the device may not be impaired, and thereby controlling the precipitation temperature of the liquid crystal droplets from the mixture to the vicinity of a temperature convenient in the fabrication, so that the solidification temperature of the resin material can be set at the vicinity of that temperature.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making a liquid crystal composite in which droplets of a liquid crystal material are dispersed in a polymer matrix. At least one further material separates the liquid crystal material from the polymer matrix. This construction permits the polymer matrix to be selected on the basis of its environmental properties and the further material to be selected on the basis of its orientational interactions with liquid crystal material. Light valves made from such a composite exhibit improved electro-optical properties.

Abstract: A pair of transparent substrates are arranged to oppose each other and bonded to each other through a seal member. A polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer and spacers are provided between the pair of transparent substrates. A plurality of pixel electrodes respectively provided with TFTs are disposed in a matrix form on the counter surface of one substrate opposing the other substrate, and the spacers for regulating the gap between the substrates are fixed, through resin films, to remaining regions of the counter surface of one substrate obtained by excluding pixel regions corresponding to the pixel electrodes from the region inside the seal member. A black mask is formed on the remaining regions of the counter surface of the other transparent substrate, and a flat counter electrode opposing the plurality of pixel electrodes is formed on the black mask.