Liquid crystal display device

Abstract

There is provided a liquid crystal display device in which light leaks near spacers are prevented. The liquid crystal display device controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, includes spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates, signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate, an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines, and electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer. Each of the spacers has a vertex surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, and a portion of each of the electrodes is extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion is opposed to a part of the vertex surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines; and    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer,    each of the spacers having a vertex surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to a part of the vertex surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         2 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines; and    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer,    each of the spacers having a vertex surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to the whole of the vertex surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         3 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 2 , wherein the insulating film is at least formed of an organic material on the surface on which the electrodes are formed.  
     
     
         4 . A liquid crystal display device according to any of claims  1 ,  2  and  3 , wherein each area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines disposed on the one of the substrates and adjacent ones of drain signal lines disposed on the one of the substrates constitutes a pixel area, 
 the signal lines being the gate signal lines, and the electrodes being pixel electrodes each of which is supplied with a video signal from a corresponding one of the drain signal lines via a switching element operated by a scanning signal supplied from a corresponding one of the gate signal lines.  
 
     
     
         5 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines;    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer; and    spacers which ensure the gap between the one of the substrates and the other,    each of the spacers having a bottom surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to a part of the bottom surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         6 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines;    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer; and    spacers which ensure the gap between the one of the substrates and the other,    each of the spacers having a bottom surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to the whole of the bottom surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         7 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 6 , wherein the insulating film is at least formed of an organic material on the surface on which the electrodes are formed.  
     
     
         8 . A liquid crystal display device according to any of claims  5 ,  6  and  7 , wherein each area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines disposed on the one of the substrates and adjacent ones of drain signal lines disposed on the one of the substrates constitutes a pixel area, 
 the signal lines being the gate signal lines, and the electrodes being pixel electrodes each of which is supplied with a video signal from a corresponding one of the drain signal lines via a switching element operated by a scanning signal supplied from a corresponding one of the gate signal lines.  
 
     
     
         9 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field component generated in a direction perpendicular to the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines; and    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer,    each of the spacers having a vertex surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to a part of the vertex surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         10 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field component generated in a direction perpendicular to the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the other substrate;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines; and    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer,    each of the spacers having a vertex surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to the whole of the vertex surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         11 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 10 , wherein the insulating film is at least formed of an organic material on the surface on which the electrodes are formed.  
     
     
         12 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 spacers formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween;    pixel areas each constituted by an area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines disposed on the other substrate and adjacent ones of drain signal lines disposed on the other substrate;    a switching element which is operated by a scanning signal supplied from a corresponding one of the gate signal lines;    a pixel electrode which is supplied with a video signal from a corresponding one of the drain signal lines via the switching element; and    a counter electrode formed in a layer overlying the pixel electrode with the pixel electrode and an insulating film interposed therebetween,    the switching element, the pixel electrode and the counter electrode being provided in each of the pixel areas,    the pixel electrode having an extended portion partly extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the gate signal lines,    each of the spacers having a vertex surface disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the gate signal lines and the extended portion of a corresponding one of the pixel electrodes.    
     
     
         13 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 12 , wherein the insulating film is at least formed of an organic material on the surface on which the counter electrode is formed.  
     
     
         14 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 13 , wherein the counter electrode is formed as a part of a conductive layer which covers the gate signal lines and the drain signal lines.  
     
     
         15 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 14 , wherein the counter electrode is formed of a transparent conductive layer.  
     
     
         16 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 15 , wherein when an electric field is not generated in the liquid crystal, the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal becomes the lowest.  
     
     
         17 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field component generated in a direction perpendicular to the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines;    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer; and    spacers which ensure the gap between the one of the substrates and the other,    each of the spacers having a bottom surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to a part of the bottom surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         18 . A liquid crystal display device which controls the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal layer interposed between substrates disposed in opposition to each other, by means of an electric field generated in a direction perpendicular to the layer-thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, comprising: 
 signal lines formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates;    an insulating film formed to cover the signal lines;    electrodes formed on the upper surface of the insulating film, each of which serves as one electrode contributing to control of the optical transmissivity of the liquid crystal layer; and    spacers which ensure the gap between the one of the substrates and the other,    each of the spacers having a bottom surface disposed in opposition to any of the signal lines, a portion of each of the electrodes being extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the signal lines and the extended portion being opposed to the whole of the bottom surface of a spacer disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the signal lines.    
     
     
         19 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 18 , wherein the insulating film is at least formed of an organic material on the surface on which the electrodes are formed.  
     
     
         20 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 pixel areas each constituted by an area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines disposed on the other substrate and adjacent ones of drain signal lines disposed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween;    a switching element which is operated by a scanning signal supplied from a corresponding one of the gate signal lines;    a pixel electrode which is supplied with a video signal from a corresponding one of the drain signal lines via the switching element;    a counter electrode formed in a layer overlying the pixel electrode with the pixel electrode and an insulating film interposed therebetween; and    a spacer which ensures the gap between the one of the substrates and the other,    the switching element, the pixel electrode, the counter electrode and the spacer being provided in each of the pixel areas,    the pixel electrode having an extended portion partly extended to the upper surface of a corresponding one of the gate signal lines,    each of the spacers having a bottom surface disposed in opposition to the corresponding one of the gate signal lines and the extended portion of a corresponding one of the pixel electrodes.    
     
     
         21 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 20 , wherein the insulating film is at least formed of an organic material on the surface on which the counter electrode is formed.  
     
     
         22 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 21 , wherein the counter electrode is formed as a part of a conductive layer which covers the gate signal lines and the drain signal lines.  
     
     
         23 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 22 , wherein the counter electrode is formed of a transparent conductive layer.  
     
     
         24 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 23 , wherein when an electric field is not generated in the liquid crystal, the optical transmissivity of a liquid crystal becomes the lowest.  
     
     
         25 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines and an organic material layer formed as an insulating layer; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines;    the driver chips having bumps provided in electrical connection with the terminals via an anisotropic conductive film interposed between the one of the substrates and the driver chips,    an area in which the driver chips are mounted being a non-formation region of the organic material layer.    
     
     
         26 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines and an organic material layer formed as an insulating layer; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines;    the organic material layer being formed to extend into an area in which the driver chips are mounted,    the driver chips having bumps provided in electrical connection with the terminals via an anisotropic conductive film interposed between the one of the substrates and the driver chips,    the organic material layer having a layer thickness of 600 nm or more.    
     
     
         27 . A liquid crystal display device according to one of claims  25  and  26 , wherein a switching element and a pixel electrode are provided in each pixel area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines and adjacent ones of drain signal lines all of which are formed on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates, the switching element being operated by a scanning signal supplied from one of the adjacent gate signal lines, the pixel electrode being supplied with a video signal from one of the adjacent drain signal lines via the switching element, 
 the driver chips being at least either driver chips which supply scanning signals to the gate signal lines or driver chips which supply video signals to the drain signal lines.  
 
     
     
         28 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines;    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines; and    a shock absorbing layer interposed between the driver chips and the one of the substrates.    
     
     
         29 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines,    the driver chips having output bumps provided in electrical connection with the terminals via an anisotropic conductive film interposed between the one of the substrates and the driver chips,    the driver chips being opposed, across the anisotropic conductive film, to a shock absorbing layer interposed in a region between the output bumps and input bumps on the one of the substrates.    
     
     
         30 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines;    a shock absorbing layer interposed in a region between input bumps and output bumps of each of the driver chips on the one of the substrates,    the layer thickness of the shock absorbing layer being set approximately equal to the sum of the height of each of the bumps and the layer thickness of each of the terminals.    
     
     
         31 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines;    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines;    an interconnection layer formed to run in a region between input bumps and output bumps of each of the driver chips on the one of the substrates; and    a shock absorbing layer formed to cover the interconnection layer in the region.    
     
     
         32 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 31 , wherein the shock absorbing layer is formed to avoid a region in which the respective input bumps of each of the driver chips are opposed to the output bumps of each of the driver chips.  
     
     
         33 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines;    an interconnection layer formed to run in a region between input bumps and output bumps of each of the driver chips on the one of the substrates; and    a shock absorbing layer formed to cover the interconnection layer in the region,    the shock absorbing layer being formed to avoid a region in which the respective input bumps of each of the driver chips are opposed to the output bumps of each of the driver chips,    the layer thickness of the shock absorbing layer being set approximately equal to the sum of the height of each of the bumps and the layer thickness of each of the terminals.    
     
     
         34 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines;    an interconnection layer formed to run in a region between input bumps and output bumps of each of the driver chips on the one of the substrates; and    a shock absorbing layer formed to cover the interconnection layer in the region,    the shock absorbing layer being formed to avoid a region in which the respective input bumps of each of the driver chips are opposed to the output bumps of each of the driver chips, the layer thickness of the shock absorbing layer being set to be 600 nm or more.    
     
     
         35 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a plurality of patterned material layers stacked on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    the material layers including at least a conductive layer formed as signal lines and an organic material layer formed as an insulating layer; and    driver chips mounted on the liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates to supply signals from terminals of the signal lines,    a portion near at least input bumps and output bumps of each of the driver chips having a non-formation region of the organic material layer,    the driver chips having output bumps provided in electrical connection with the terminals via an anisotropic conductive film interposed between the one of the substrates and the driver chips,    the driver chips being opposed across the anisotropic conductive film to the organic material layer formed in a region between the input bumps and the output bumps on the one of the substrates.    
     
     
         36 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal; and    an organic material layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrates,    a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in the vicinity of the sealing material.    
     
     
         37 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 36 , wherein the non-formation region is a region between the sealing material and the outer outline of an aggregation of pixels disposed in matrix form.  
     
     
         38 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 37 , wherein the sealing material has a rectangular pattern and the non-formation region of the organic material layer is provided at least one corner of the sealing material.  
     
     
         39 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 36 , wherein a switching element and a pixel electrode are provided in each pixel area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines and adjacent ones of drain signal lines all of which are formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates, the switching element being operated by a scanning signal supplied from one of the adjacent gate signal lines, the pixel electrode being supplied with a video signal from one of the adjacent drain signal lines via the switching element, the organic material layer being a protective film formed to cover the switching element.  
     
     
         40 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 36 , wherein the organic material layer constitutes a black matrix layer.  
     
     
         41 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 36 , wherein the organic material layer constitutes a color filter layer.  
     
     
         42 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 36 , wherein the organic material layer is a leveling film formed to cover a black matrix layer and a color filter layer.  
     
     
         43 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal;    a sealant applied to a part of the sealing material to seal the sealing material after the liquid crystal has been injected; and    an organic material layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrates,    a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in the vicinity of the sealing material on a side opposite to a side where the sealant is provided.    
     
     
         44 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 43 , wherein the non-formation region is a region between the sealing material and the outer outline of an aggregation of pixels disposed in matrix form.  
     
     
         45 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 44 , wherein the sealing material has a rectangular pattern and the non-formation region of the organic material layer is provided at a corner formed by one side of the sealing material opposite to the sealant and another side intersecting with the one side.  
     
     
         46 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 43 , wherein a switching element and a pixel electrode are provided in each pixel area surrounded by adjacent ones of gate signal lines and adjacent ones of drain signal lines all of which are formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of the one of the substrates, the switching element being operated by a scanning signal supplied from one of the adjacent gate signal lines, the pixel electrode being supplied with a video signal from one of the adjacent drain signal lines via the switching element, the organic material layer being a protective film formed to cover the switching element.  
     
     
         47 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 43 , wherein the organic material layer constitutes a black matrix layer.  
     
     
         48 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 43 , wherein the organic material layer constitutes a color filter layer.  
     
     
         49 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 43 , wherein the organic material layer is a leveling film formed to cover a black matrix layer and a color filter layer.  
     
     
         50 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween; and    pixel areas formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates,    each of the pixel areas including: 
 a switching element operated by a scanning signal supplied from a gate signal line;  
 a pixel electrode supplied with a video signal from a drain signal line via the switching element;  
 a counter electrode which causes an electric field to be generated between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode;  
 an organic insulating layer formed to cover the switching element, at least one of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode being formed in a layer overlying the organic insulating layer; and  
 a sealing material which surrounds at least an aggregation of the pixel areas to secure one of the substrates to the other and seal the liquid crystal,  
   a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in the vicinity of the sealing material.    
     
     
         51 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 50 , wherein each of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is made of a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes and the electrode formed in the layer overlying the organic insulating layer includes five or more electrodes per pixel area.  
     
     
         52 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 50 , wherein each of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is made of a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes and the electrode formed in the layer overlying the organic insulating layer is spaced apart from another adjacent electrode by a distance of 13 μm or less.  
     
     
         53 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 50 , wherein each of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is made of a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes and the extending direction of the electrode formed in the layer overlying the organic insulating layer is approximately coincident with the direction of a side of the sealing material on which a sealant is formed.  
     
     
         54 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween; and    pixel areas formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates,    each of the pixel areas including: 
 a switching element operated by a scanning signal supplied from a gate signal line;  
 a pixel electrode supplied with a video signal from a drain signal line via the switching element;  
 a counter electrode which causes an electric field to be generated between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode;  
 an organic insulating layer formed to cover the switching element, at least one of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode being formed in a layer overlying the organic insulating layer; and  
 a sealing material which surrounds at least an aggregation of the pixel areas to secure one of the substrates to the other and seal the liquid crystal,  
   each of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode being made of a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes and the electrode formed in the layer overlying the organic insulating layer includes five or more electrodes per pixel area.    
     
     
         55 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween; and    pixel areas formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the substrates,    each of the pixel areas including: 
 a switching element operated by a scanning signal supplied from a gate signal line;  
 a pixel electrode supplied with a video signal from a drain signal line via the switching element;  
 a counter electrode which causes an electric field to be generated between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode;  
 an organic insulating layer formed to cover the switching element, at least one of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode being formed in a layer overlying the organic insulating layer; and  
 a sealing material which surrounds at least an aggregation of the pixel areas to secure one of the substrates to the other and seal the liquid crystal,  
   each of the pixel electrode and the counter electrode being made of a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodes and the electrode formed in the layer overlying the organic insulating layer is spaced apart from another adjacent electrode by a distance of 13 μm or less.    
     
     
         53 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal;    an organic insulating layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrate;    a first sealant formed to close a liquid crystal injection hole in the sealing material; and    a second sealant formed to close an exhaust hole through which gas from the liquid crystal is released.    
     
     
         57 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 56 , wherein the sealing material has a rectangular pattern having four sides, and the first sealant and the second sealant are respectively formed on different sides.  
     
     
         58 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal; and    an organic insulating layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrate,    a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in the vicinity of the sealing material,    spacers provided on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the pair of substrates to ensure the gap between the one of the pair of substrates and the other.    
     
     
         59 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal; and    an organic insulating layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrates,    a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in and near a region in which the sealing material is formed,    spacers provided on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one of the pair of substrates to ensure the gap between the one of the pair of substrates and the other,    beads or fibers being contained in the sealing material to ensure the gap between the pair of substrates.    
     
     
         60 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal; and    an organic insulating layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrates,    a liquid crystal injection hole being formed in part of the sealing material, and a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in and near the liquid crystal injection hole.    
     
     
         61 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal; and    an organic insulating layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrates,    a liquid crystal injection hole being formed in part of the sealing material, and a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in the vicinity of the sealing material within an area surrounded by the liquid crystal injection hole and the sealing material.    
     
     
         62 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a pair of substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    a sealing material which secures one of the substrates to the other and seals the liquid crystal; and    an organic insulating layer formed in at least an area surrounded by the sealing material on the one of the substrates,    a liquid crystal injection hole being formed in part of the sealing material, and a non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in and near the liquid crystal injection hole and a region in which the sealing material is formed.    
     
     
         63 . A liquid crystal display device according to any of claims  60 ,  61  and  62 , wherein the organic material layer and an inorganic material layer positioned to underlie the organic material layer constitute a protective film.  
     
     
         64 . A liquid crystal display device according to any of claims  60 ,  61 ,  62  and  63 , wherein an aggregation of pixel areas is formed in the area surrounded by the sealing material and the non-formation region of the organic material layer being provided in an area outside the aggregation of the pixel areas.  
     
     
         65 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    signal lines formed on one of the substrates;    a stacked structure formed to cover the signal lines on the one of the substrates, an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer being stacked in that order in the stacked structure; and    spacers formed on the one of the substrates to ensure the gap between the one of the substrates and the other, the spacers being formed to be superposed on the signal lines with the stacked structure being interposed therebetween.    
     
     
         66 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 65 , wherein the area of each of the spacers taken in a plane perpendicular to its axis is made large on the one of the substrates and small on the other.  
     
     
         67 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    driver chips mounted on one of the substrates in an area other than an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed;    the driver chips being electrically connected to signal lines formed to run in an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed, with a stacked structure being interposed between the driver chips and the signal lines, an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer being stacked in that order in the stacked structure; and    an alignment mark formed in a layer underlying the stacked structure in the vicinity of each of the driver chips,    the inorganic material layer which covers the alignment mark being left in a shape which is coaxially coincident with the alignment mark and is similar to, but larger than, the alignment mark, the vicinity of the inorganic material layer being removed.    
     
     
         68 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 67 , wherein the organic material layer is removed from the alignment mark and the periphery thereof.  
     
     
         69 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween,    driver chips mounted on one of the substrates in an area other than an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed;    the driver chips being electrically connected to signal lines formed to run in an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed, with a stacked structure being interposed between the driver chips and the signal lines, an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer being stacked in that order in the stacked structure; and    an alignment mark formed in a layer underlying the stacked structure in the vicinity of each of the driver chips;    the inorganic material layer which covers the alignment mark being moved in a region over the alignment mark as well as in the vicinity of the region.    
     
     
         70 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    driver chips mounted on one of the substrates in an area other than an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed;    the driver chips being electrically connected to signal lines formed to run in an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed, with a stacked structure being interposed between the driver chips and the signal lines, an inorganic material layer and an organic material layer being stacked in that order in the stacked structure; and    an alignment mark formed in a layer underlying the stacked structure in the vicinity of each of the driver chips;    the inorganic material layer which covers the alignment mark being moved in a region over the alignment mark as well as in the vicinity of the region.    
     
     
         71 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;    driver chips mounted on one of the substrates in an area other than an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed;    the driver chips being electrically connected to signal lines formed to run in an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed, with an organic material layer being interposed between the driver chips and the signal lines; and    an interconnection layer formed to run in an area in which the driver chips are mounted, in a layer underlying the organic material layer.    
     
     
         72 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 71 , wherein a conductive film is formed to cover at least the interconnection layer on the upper surface of the organic material layer in an area other than the area in which the driver chips are mounted,  
     
     
         73 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 72 , wherein a conductive layer is formed which constitutes an electrode on the upper surface of the organic material layer in the area in which the liquid crystal is sealed, the conductive film being formed integrally with or in the same process as the conductive layer.  
     
     
         74 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a liquid crystal display panel;    a frame having an aperture opened in a portion corresponding to a liquid crystal display part of the liquid crystal display panel;    the liquid crystal display panel including: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;  
 an interconnection layer formed on one of the substrates in an area other than an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed;  
 a conductive layer formed on the interconnection layer with a resin film interposed therebetween; and  
 an insulating film formed to cover the conductive film on the upper surface of the conductive layer.  
   
     
     
         75 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 74 , wherein the insulating film is an anistropic resin film.  
     
     
         76 . A liquid crystal display device according to  claim 74 , wherein the insulating film is an applied resin material.  
     
     
         77 . A liquid crystal display device comprising: 
 a liquid crystal display panel; and    a frame having an aperture provided in a portion corresponding to a liquid crystal display part of the liquid crystal display panel,    the liquid crystal display panel including: 
 substrates disposed in opposition to each other with a liquid crystal interposed therebetween;  
 an interconnection layer formed on one of the substrates in an area other than an area in which the liquid crystal is sealed;  
 a conductive layer formed on the interconnection layer with a resin film interposed therebetween; and  
 an insulating film formed on a surface opposed to the conductive layer of the frame.  
   
     
     
         78 . A liquid crystal display device according to claims  74 ,  75 ,  76  and  77 , wherein the interconnection layer is made of a plurality of interconnection layers including an interconnection layer which provides electrical connection between each of juxtaposed driver chips.