Liquid crystal display device

Abstract

A pixel electrode is formed on a TFT substrate, and a gate insulating film, an inorganic passivation film, a common electrode, and an alignment film are formed in this order thereover. A columnar spacer is formed to the counter substrate and is adapted to define a gap between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate. A through hole is formed in the gate insulating film of the TFT substrate, and the columnar spacer is disposed so as to cover a concave portion formed by the through hole. Since the area of contact between the columnar spacer and the TFT substrate is decreased, it is possible to suppress scraping of the alignment film and thus to prevent occurrence of bright spots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid crystal display device comprising:
 a TFT substrate;   a counter substrate;   a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the TFT substrate and the counter substrate;   a columnar spacer disposed between the counter substrate and the liquid crystal layer;   an insulating film disposed between the TFT substrate and the liquid crystal layer, and an alignment film disposed between the insulating film and the liquid crystal layer; and   a first electrode disposed between the TFT substrate and the insulating film, and a second electrode disposed between the insulating film and the alignment film, wherein   the insulating film has a first hole and a second hole,   the first electrode and the second electrode are connected via the first hole of the insulating film, and the second hole is not a contact hole, and   the columnar spacer is disposed to cover a concave portion formed by the second hole.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a conductive layer is not present below the insulating film at the second hole.   
     
     
         3 . The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a diameter at a top of the columnar spacer is not less than 1.5 times as large as the diameter at the bottom of the concave portion formed to the TFT substrate.   
     
     
         4 . The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a TFT,
 wherein the insulating film is a gate insulating film of the TFT.   
     
     
         5 . The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 a conductive layer is not present below the insulating film at the second hole.   
     
     
         6 . The liquid crystal display device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 a conductive layer is not present below the insulating film at a periphery of the second through hole.