CN1982989B - Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention disclsoes a liquid crystal display includes a first substrate having a display area and a peripheral area and including a plurality of pixels formed in the display area, a second substrate facing the first substrate, and a plurality of first groups of bead spacers and a plurality of second groups of bead spacers disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first groups of bead spacers have a different size or different elasticity coefficient than the second groups of bead spacers, and include a plurality of bead spacers, respectively.

Description

Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof

technical field

The invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a manufacturing method thereof.

Background technique

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is one of the most widely used flat panel displays. An LCD includes two display panels provided with field generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes and common electrodes, and a liquid crystal (LC) layer sandwiched between the two display panels. The LCD displays images by applying a voltage to the field generating electrodes to generate an electric field within the LC layer, which determines the orientation of LC molecules within the LC layer to adjust the polarization of incident light.

The two display panels of the LCD are combined with a sealant formed on each periphery of the display panel to seal the liquid crystal material therein, and the two display panels are supported with a spacer provided therebetween so as to be separated between the two display panels. Maintain cell gaps between display panels.

The spacers can be classified into spherical bead spacers formed in an irregular pattern and columnar spacers formed in a uniform pattern.

After coating the photosensitive film on the color filter array panel and then exposing and developing it, in the part corresponding to the light-proof part in the pixel, that is, for example, the channel part, the gate line, the storage electrode line or the light blocking member , columnar spacers are formed in a desired pattern.

Before the two display panels are coupled together, bead-like spacers are formed by spreading them randomly. However, when the bead spacers are formed in this way, the bead spacers may become foreign particles causing light leakage, thereby deteriorating contrast, or some of the bead spacers may move slightly, thereby damaging the alignment layer.

The two display panels of the LCD are combined by fixing the two display panels facing each other by using an unhardened sealant and hardening the unhardened sealant with light or heat. During the assembly process of combining the two display panels, the liquid crystal material may be contaminated due to contact with the unhardened sealant, causing alignment defects of the liquid crystal. Therefore, a bank can be formed at the periphery of a display panel, and the liquid crystal material is sealed by the bank so as to avoid contact with the unhardened sealant.

However, the dams may have non-uniform heights, allowing the liquid crystal material to migrate through the lower portions of the dams to the uncured encapsulant. Meanwhile, an additional process for making the dike will lead to increased LCD manufacturing time and manufacturing cost.

Contents of the invention

A liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first substrate having a display area and a peripheral area, the first substrate including a plurality of pixels formed in the display area; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and A plurality of first sets of bead spacers and a plurality of second sets of bead spacers are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first bead spacer group and the second bead spacer group have different sizes or different elastic coefficients from each other, and include a plurality of beads, respectively.

The liquid crystal display may further include a plurality of light blocking members formed on the second substrate and overlapping the second bead spacer group.

The first set of bead spacers and the second set of bead spacers may not overlap each other.

A first set of bead spacers may be disposed near the center of the display area, and a second set of bead spacers may be disposed around an edge of the display area.

The first bead spacer group and the second bead spacer group may be disposed in the display area, and arranged one by one every six pixels, respectively.

The first group of bead spacers and the second group of bead spacers disposed in the display area may be alternately arranged every three pixels.

The first bead spacer group and the second bead spacer group may be disposed on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively.

The first set of bead spacers and the second set of bead spacers may be attached to one of the first and second substrates.

The liquid crystal display may further include gate and data lines formed on the first substrate; thin film transistors connected to the gate and data lines; and pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors.

The liquid crystal display may further include a color filter formed on the second substrate; and a common electrode formed on the color filter.

The beads of the first set of bead spacers may be smaller than the beads of the second set of bead spacers.

The beads of the first bead spacer set may have a lower modulus of elasticity than the beads of the second bead spacer set.

The liquid crystal display may further include a sealing member disposed at an edge of a peripheral area, wherein the first substrate is combined with the second substrate.

The second group of bead spacers may be disposed near the center of the display area and in the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member, and the first group of bead spacers may be disposed at the edge of the display area and in the area between the display area and the sealing member. within the surrounding area.

The first bead spacer group and the second bead spacer group disposed in the peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member may be alternately arranged at regular intervals.

The first bead-shaped spacer group and the second bead-shaped spacer group arranged in the display area may be arranged one by one every three pixels, and the first bead-shaped spacer set in the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member The set of spacers and the second set of bead spacers may be closely and alternately arranged.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display includes: attaching a first bead spacer set to a first bead supply substrate; attaching the first bead supply substrate to the first bead spacer group transcribed onto the surface of the first transcription roll; transcribing the first set of bead spacers on the first transcription roll onto the first substrate; attaching the second set of bead spacers to the second bead supply substrate; The second bead spacer set on the second bead supply substrate is transcribed onto the surface of the second transcription roll; the second bead spacer set on the second transcription roll is transcribed onto the second substrate; the liquid crystal material is deposited on on at least one of the first and second substrates; and combining the first and second substrates.

The first and second bead supply substrates may have a plurality of holes, and attaching the first set of bead spacers or the second set of bead spacers may include injecting beads of the first or second set of bead spacers into the holes Inside.

The first bead spacer group and the second bead spacer group may be beads capable of maintaining a constant cell gap between the first substrate and the second substrate.

The first bead spacer group and the second bead spacer group may be banks capable of controlling the velocity of the liquid crystal material.

The first set of bead spacers and the second set of bead spacers may be attached to the first and second spacer supply substrates with an adhesive.

Adhesives may include thermosets or UV hardeners.

The method may also include exposing the first substrate to heat or light after transcribing the first set of bead spacers on the first transcription roll onto the first substrate.

The method may also include exposing the second substrate to heat or light after transcribing the second set of bead spacers on the second transcription roll onto the second substrate.

The size of the holes on the first bead supply substrate may be different from the size of the holes on the second bead supply substrate.

The wells on the first bead supply substrate and the wells on the second bead supply substrate may be filled with a plurality of beads.

The first set of bead spacers may have a different size or a different modulus of elasticity than the second set of bead spacers.

The first set of bead spacers and the second set of bead spacers may not overlap each other.

Description of drawings

1 is a schematic diagram of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD comprising a thin film transistor array plate, a common electrode plate, and a spacer disposed thereon;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of the LCD shown in Fig. 1;

4 is a schematic diagram of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a layout diagram of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of the LCD shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the LCD shown in Fig. 5;

8 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for fabricating spacers for LCDs according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

9 is a layout view of a first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

10 is a view illustrating a step of depositing bead spacers on a first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

11 is a view showing a step of equally injecting dripped bead spacers into a plurality of holes on a first spacer supply substrate;

12 is a layout diagram of a first spacer-supplied substrate in which bead-shaped spacers have been injected into holes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

13 is a layout view of a first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

14 is a layout diagram of a first spacer-supplied substrate in which bead-shaped spacers have been injected into holes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

15 is a view showing a step of transcribing bead spacers from a first spacer supply substrate onto the surface of a transcription roller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

16 is a view showing the step of transcribing bead spacers that have been transcribed onto the transcribing roller from the surface of the transcribing roller to the thin film transistor array plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

17 is a view illustrating a step of hardening bead spacers disposed on a thin film transistor array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

18 is a layout view of a second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

19 is a view illustrating a step of depositing bead spacers on a second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

20 is a view showing a step of equally injecting dripped bead spacers into a plurality of holes on a second spacer supply substrate;

21 is a layout diagram of a second spacer supply substrate in which bead spacers have been injected into holes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

22 is a layout view of a second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

23 is a layout diagram of a second spacer supply substrate in which bead spacers have been injected into the holes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

24 is a view showing a step of transcribing bead spacers from a second spacer supply substrate onto the surface of a transcription roller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

25 is a view showing the step of transcribing bead spacers that have been transcribed onto the transcribing roller from the surface of the transcribing roller to the common electrode plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

26 is a view illustrating a step of hardening bead spacers disposed on a common electrode plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a view illustrating a step of combining a thin film transistor array board and a common electrode board each having hardened bead spacers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention can also be embodied in other different forms, and therefore the present invention should not be construed as each embodiment set forth herein.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Throughout the specification, like reference numerals designate like elements. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

Now, a liquid crystal display according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD comprising a thin film transistor array plate, a common electrode plate, and a spacer arranged thereon, and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the LCD shown in Fig. 1 A cross-sectional view of the LCD taken along line III-III. Arrows in FIG. 3 represent moving directions of the liquid crystal material after the liquid crystal material is arranged.

Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD 300 includes a sealing member 310 disposed on the outermost portion of the LCD 300, and a plurality of pixels P disposed inside. Hereinafter, an area within the LCD 300 where a plurality of pixels P are provided is referred to as a display area, and the remaining area is referred to as a peripheral area.

A plurality of smaller bead spacer sets 320a are disposed around the edges of the display area, while a plurality of larger bead spacer sets 320b are disposed within the display area. However, the arrangement of these bead spacer sets 320a and 320b can vary.

A plurality of smaller bead spacer groups 320 a and a plurality of larger bead spacer groups 320 b are alternately disposed at regular intervals in a peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member 310 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , the smaller bead spacer group 320 a is disposed on the thin film transistor array plate 100 , and the larger bead spacer group 320 b is disposed on the common electrode plate 200 . However, these bead spacer groups 320 a and 320 b may also be disposed together on one of the TFT array panel 100 and the common electrode panel 200 .

Each spacer group 320a and 320b may be disposed on a region corresponding to a light blocking member (not shown). Within each spacer set 320a and 320b, there may be a plurality of spacers, for example six to eight spacers of the same size. Of course, the number of spacers in the spacer groups 320a and 320b can be less than six or more than eight, and the shape of the spacer groups 320a and 320b can be varied, like a quadrilateral and the like.

A plurality of smaller spacer groups 320 a and a plurality of larger spacer groups 320 b may be alternately disposed at regular intervals in a peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member 310 .

As shown by the arrow in Figure 3, when the liquid crystal material moves from the display area to outside the display area, the liquid crystal material repeatedly passes through the gaps in the larger bead spacer group 320b, passes through the larger bead spacer group 320b, and crosses the larger bead spacer group 320b. Or bypass the smaller set of bead spacers 320a to reach the sealing member 310 . Thus, the velocity of the liquid crystal material in the peripheral region between the display area and the sealing member 310 can be reduced, substantially preventing the liquid crystal material from contacting the sealing member 310 before the sealing member 310 hardens. A plurality of bead-shaped spacer groups 320a and 320b are disposed at regular intervals and in regular order in the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member 310 to keep the velocity of the liquid crystal material substantially the same in several directions while moving the liquid crystal The material moves towards the sealing member 310 .

In addition, the velocity of the liquid crystal material in several directions can be maintained so that the liquid crystal material can reach the sealing member 310 substantially simultaneously in several directions, thereby avoiding uneven distribution of the liquid crystal material in the LCD 300 and maintaining a constant cell gap.

As shown in FIG. 1, an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of bead spacer groups 320a and 320b arranged in a manner of one spacer group every three pixels. However, these bead spacer groups 320a and 320b may also be arranged at varying pixel intervals.

In an LCD, the pressure exerted on the central portion of the display area may be much greater than that on the outer portions of the display area, and thus, the cell gap in the central portion is shorter than the cell gap in the outer portions. Thus, the cell gap cannot be kept constant. The LCD 300 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a larger bead spacer group 320b disposed in the central portion of the display area and a smaller bead spacer group 320a disposed in the outer portion, thereby enabling display A constant cell gap is maintained within the zone.

In addition, the liquid crystal material may be non-uniformly spread toward the outer portion of the display area during disposition of the liquid crystal material, so that the cell gap of the outer portion may be longer than the cell gap of the central portion. Thus, the arrangement and size of these sets of bead spacers 320a and 320b can be varied such that a larger set of bead spacers 320b is disposed in the outer portion and a smaller set of bead spacers 320a is disposed in the central portion. In addition, sets of bead spacers having the same size but different elasticities can also be used.

Now, an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 . FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the planar structure of the LCD 300 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1. The LCD 300 includes a sealing member 310 disposed on the outermost portion of the LCD 300, a plurality of pixels P disposed inside the LCD 300, and a plurality of beads disposed on a peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member 310 at constant intervals. set of spacers 320a and 320b.

However, unlike the LCD shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of smaller bead spacer groups 320a and a plurality of larger bead spacer groups 320b are alternately disposed within the display area.

The LCD 300 includes a plurality of bead spacer groups 320a and 320b which have different sizes and are arranged alternately to maintain a locally varied constant cell gap and uniform liquid crystal material distribution within the display area.

Therefore, when the two display panels are assembled after the liquid crystal material is arranged, the larger bead spacer group 320b can maintain a constant cell gap, while the smaller bead spacers can maintain a constant cell gap when local pressure is applied to the display panel. By supporting the two display panels, the object set 320a can prevent the elastic force of the larger bead spacer set 320b from allowing the bead spacer set 320b to compress beyond a certain point.

Hereinafter, an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 . FIG. 5 is a layout diagram of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the LCD shown in FIG. 5 taken along line VI-VI, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the LCD shown in FIG. 5 taken along line VII-VII.

This LCD includes a thin film transistor (TFT) array panel 100 and a common electrode panel 200 facing each other, and an LC layer 3 sandwiched therebetween.

A plurality of gate lines 121 and a plurality of storage electrode lines 131 are formed on an insulating substrate 110 made of a material such as transparent glass or plastic.

The gate lines 121 transmit gate signals and extend substantially in a lateral direction. Each gate line 121 includes a plurality of gate electrodes 124 protruding downward, and an end portion 129 having a region for contacting another layer or an external driving circuit. A gate driving circuit (not shown) for generating gate signals may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit (FPC) film (not shown), which may be attached to the substrate 110, mounted directly on the substrate 110, or integrated on the substrate 110. The gate line 121 may be extended to be connected to a driving circuit which may be integrated on the substrate 110 .

The storage electrode line 131 is supplied with a predetermined voltage and extends substantially parallel to the gate line 121 . Each storage electrode line 131 is disposed between two pairs of adjacent gate lines 121 and is closer to one of the pair of two adjacent gate lines 121 . Each storage electrode line 131 includes a storage electrode 137 extending upward and downward. However, the storage electrode lines 131 may also have various shapes and arrangements.

The gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 may be made of a material containing Ag, Cu, Mo, Cr, Ta, Ti, or alloys thereof. However, the gate line 121 may also have a multilayer structure composed of two kinds of conductive films (not shown) having different physical properties. One of these two films can be made of a low resistance metal including Al, Ag, Cu or alloys thereof to reduce signal delay or voltage drop. Another film can be made of materials such as Mo, Cr, Ta, Ti or their alloys which have good physical, chemical and electrical contact properties. Examples of the combination of these two films are a lower Cr film and an upper Al (alloy) film, and a lower Al (alloy) film and an upper Mo (alloy) film. However, the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 may be made of various metals or conductors.

Side surfaces of the gate lines 121 and the storage electrode lines 131 are inclined relative to the surface of the substrate 110, and the inclination angle ranges from about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees.

The gate insulating layer 140 may be made of silicon nitride (SiNx) or silicon oxide (SiOx), and formed on the gate line 121 and the storage electrode line 131 .

A plurality of semiconductor stripes 151 may be made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (abbreviated as “a-Si”) or polysilicon, and are formed on the gate insulating layer 140 . Each semiconductor strip 151 extends substantially longitudinally and includes a plurality of projections 154 branching toward the gate 124 .

A plurality of ohmic contact strips and islands 161 , 165 are formed on the semiconductor strip 151 . These ohmic contacts 161, 165 can be made of n+ hydrogenated a-Si heavily doped with n-type impurities such as phosphorous, or they can be made of suicide. Each ohmic contact strip 161 includes a plurality of protrusions 163 , and these protrusions 163 and ohmic contact islands 165 are provided in pairs on the protrusions 154 of the semiconductor strip 151 .

The sides of the semiconductor strips 151 and the ohmic contacts 161, 165 are inclined relative to the surface of the substrate 110 at an inclination angle in the range of about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees.

A plurality of data lines 171 and a plurality of drain electrodes 175 are formed on the ohmic contacts 161 , 165 and the gate insulating layer 140 .

The data lines 171 transmit data signals, and extend substantially in a longitudinal direction to intersect the gate lines 121 . Each data line 171 includes a plurality of source electrodes 173 protruding toward the gate 124 and bent like a letter C, and an end portion 179 having a region for contacting another layer or an external driving circuit. A data driving circuit (not shown) for generating data signals may be mounted on an FPC film (not shown), which may be attached to, directly mounted on, or integrated on the substrate 110 . The data line 171 may extend to be connected to a driving circuit integrated on the substrate 110 .

The drain 175 is separated from the data line 171 and is disposed opposite to the source 173 with respect to the gate 124 . Each drain 175 includes a wider end 177 and a narrower end. The wider end portion 177 overlaps the storage electrode 137 , and the lower end portion is partially surrounded by the source electrode 173 .

The gate 124 , source 173 and drain 175 together with the protrusion 154 of the semiconductor strip 151 form a TFT with a channel within the protrusion 154 and disposed between the source 173 and the drain 175 .

The data line 171 and the drain electrode 175 may be made of refractory metals such as Cr, Mo, Ta, Ti, and alloys thereof. However, they may have a multilayer structure including a refractory metal film (not shown) and a low-resistance film (not shown). Examples of multilayer structures include a double-layer structure of a lower Cr/Mo (alloy) film and an upper Al (alloy) film, and a three-layer structure comprising a lower Mo (alloy) film, an intermediate Al (alloy) film, and an upper Mo (alloy) film structure. However, the data line 171 and the drain electrode 175 may be made of various metals or conductors.

The data line 171 and the drain electrode 175 have sloped edge profiles, and the slope angle ranges from about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees.

Ohmic contacts 161 and 165 are sandwiched between the underlying semiconductor strip 151 and the conductors 171, 175 above it, thereby reducing the contact resistance between them. Although the semiconductor strip 151 is narrower than the data line 171 in most places, the width of the semiconductor strip 151 becomes larger near the gate line 121 and the storage electrode line 131 to smooth its surface profile so as to avoid disconnection of the data line 171 . The semiconductor strip 151 includes some exposed parts not covered by the data line 171 and the drain 175 , such as those parts located between the source 173 and the drain 175 .

A passivation layer 180 is formed on the exposed portions of the data line 171 , the drain electrode 175 and the semiconductor strip 151 . The passivation layer 180 may be made of an inorganic or organic insulator, and may have a flat top surface. Examples of inorganic insulators are silicon nitride and silicon oxide. The organic insulator can have photosensitivity and a dielectric constant below about 4.0. The passivation layer 180 may include a lower layer of an inorganic insulator and an upper layer of an organic insulator, so that the passivation layer can prevent the exposed portion of the semiconductor strip 151 from being damaged by the organic insulator while obtaining the insulating properties of the organic insulator.

The passivation layer 180 has a plurality of contact holes 182 and 185 exposing the end portions 171 of the data lines 171 and the drain electrodes 175, respectively. The passivation layer 180 and the gate insulating layer 140 have a plurality of contact holes 181 exposing the ends 129 of the gate lines 121 .

A plurality of pixel electrodes 190 and a plurality of contact assistants 81 , 82 are formed on the passivation layer 180 . They can be made of transparent electrodes such as ITO or IZO or reflective electrodes such as Ag, Al, Cr or their alloys.

The pixel electrode 190 is electrically connected to the drain electrode 175 through the contact hole 185 , so that the pixel electrode 190 receives the data voltage from the drain electrode 175 . The pixel electrode 190 supplied with a data voltage cooperates with the common electrode 270 on the opposite display panel 200 supplied with a common voltage to generate an electric field that defines the liquid crystal molecules (not shown) in the liquid crystal layer 3 sandwiched between the two electrodes. )orientation. The polarization of light propagating through the LC layer is adjusted according to the determined orientation of the LC molecules within the LC layer. The pixel electrode 190 and the common electrode 270 form a capacitor, called a "liquid crystal capacitor", which stores an applied voltage after the TFT is turned off.

The pixel electrode 190 and the drain electrode 175 connected thereto overlap the storage electrode line 131 and the storage electrode 137 . The pixel electrode 190, the drain electrode 175 connected thereto, and the storage electrode line 131 form an additional capacitor called a "storage capacitor", which can enhance the voltage storage capability of the liquid crystal capacitor.

The contact assistants 81 and 82 are connected to the end 129 of the gate line 121 and the end 179 of the data line 171 through the contact holes 181 and 182, respectively. The contact assistants 81 and 82 protect these ends 129 and 179 and enhance the attachment between these ends 129, 179 and external devices.

The lower alignment layer 11 is formed on the pixel electrode 190 and the passivation layer 180 .

A plurality of bead spacer groups 320 a are formed on the lower alignment layer 11 . These bead spacer groups 320 a may be formed in regions corresponding to the light blocking members 220 disposed on the common electrode plate 200 . Six to eight beads are aggregated to form a circular bead spacer set 320a. The beads can be of the same size. In addition, the number of beads in the bead spacer set 320a may be less than six or more than eight, and the shape of the bead spacer set 320a may vary, such as quadrilateral and the like.

The bead spacer groups 320a are arranged every six pixels, but the bead spacer groups 320a may also be arranged at irregular pixel intervals.

A bead spacer group 320 a may be formed under the lower alignment layer 11 .

The light blocking member 220 is formed on the insulating substrate 210, and is made of a material such as transparent glass. The light blocking member 220 is called a black matrix, and prevents leakage of light. The light blocking member 220 may include a plurality of openings (not shown) facing the pixel electrode 190 , and may have substantially the same planar shape as the pixel electrode 190 . Alternatively, the light blocking member 220 may include linear portions corresponding to the data lines 171 and the gate lines 121, and other portions corresponding to the TFTs.

A plurality of red, green and blue color filters 230R, 230G and 230B are formed on the substrate. The color filters 230R, 230G, and 230B are disposed substantially in a region surrounded by the light blocking member 220 , and they extend substantially longitudinally along the pixel electrode 190 . These color filters 230 may represent other primary colors.

An overcoat 250 is formed on the light blocking member 220 and the color filters 230R, 230G, and 230B. The overcoat layer 250 may be made of an organic or inorganic insulating material that can prevent the color filter 230 from being exposed while also providing a flat surface. Overlying layer 250 is optional.

The common electrode 270 is formed on the upper cladding layer 250 . The common electrode 270 may be made of a transparent conductive material such as ITO and IZO.

The upper alignment layer 21 is coated on the common electrode 270 .

A plurality of bead spacer groups 320b are formed on the upper alignment layer 21 . The bead spacer group 320b may be formed in a region corresponding to the light blocking member 220, and the bead spacer group 320b may also be formed in a region corresponding to the TFT.

Six to eight beads form a circular set of bead spacers 320b. These beads can be made in the same size. These bead spacer groups 320b are arranged one by one every six pixels. However, the bead spacer groups 320b may be arranged at variable pixel intervals. In addition, the number of beads in the bead spacer set 320a may be less than six or more than eight, and the shape of the bead spacer set 320a may vary, such as a quadrangle and the like.

The bead spacer group 320b disposed on the common electrode plate 200 has a larger diameter than the bead spacer group 320a disposed on the TFT array plate 100 . The larger bead spacer set 320b is in contact with the two display panels 100 and 200 , while the smaller bead spacer set 320a is separated from the common electrode plate 200 .

The bead spacer groups 320a and 320b are arranged one by one every three pixels, and the bead spacer groups 320a and the bead spacer groups 320b are alternately arranged.

However, the bead spacer group 320a having a smaller size may be disposed around the edge of the display area, and the bead spacer group 320b having a larger size may be disposed within the display area.

Although not shown in these figures, the LCD includes a sealing member 310 disposed at the outermost portion of the LCD, and includes a plurality of smaller bead spacer groups 320a and a plurality of larger bead spacer groups 320b to regularly The intervals of are alternately provided in the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member 310 .

The smaller bead spacer group 320a is disposed on the thin film transistor array plate 100, and the larger bead spacer group 320b is disposed on the common electrode plate 200, but these bead spacer groups 320a and 320b can be disposed together on the TFT array plate 100 and one of the common electrode plate 200.

The lower alignment layer 11 and the upper alignment layer 21 may be horizontal alignment layers or vertical alignment layers.

Polarizers (not shown) may be disposed on the outer surfaces of the plates 100 and 200 so that their polarization axes may cross or be parallel. One of the polarizers is optional when the LCD is a reflective LCD.

The LCD may also include at least one retardation film (not shown) for compensating the retardation of the LC layer 3 . The LCD may further include a backlight unit (not shown) to provide light to the LC layer 3 through polarizers (not shown), retardation films and plates 100 and 200 .

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for fabricating a spacer for an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the apparatus includes a spacer supply substrate 9 , a support plate 12 , a transcribing roller 14 , a spacer supply device 15 , a printing plate 4 , and scrapers 1 and 2 .

A spacer supply substrate 9 and a support plate 12 are installed on the lower frame 10 , and a transcription roller 14 and a spacer supply device 15 are installed on the upper frame 13 .

The spacer supply substrate 9 is provided on the printed board 4 of the lower frame 10, and the spacer supply substrate 9 has a plurality of holes 19 formed on its surface. The spacer supply substrate 9 may be made of glass, plastic or metal material, and the hole 19 may be formed by metal molding or laser processing.

Hole 19 may be of sufficient size to fill six to ten bead spacers (not shown). The size of the holes 19 may be reduced to support less than six bead spacers, or may be increased to support more than ten bead spacers, as required by embodiments of the invention. The holes 19 are arranged at the same interval as the interval between the bead spacer groups 320a and 320b. The substrate 210 on which the bead spacer groups 320 a and 320 b are disposed is mounted on the support plate 12 .

The transcription sheet 33 is made of hydrophilic silicon, and is attached to the surface of the transcription roller 14 .

The scrapers 1 and 2 are installed on the rear side of the spacer supply device 15 with respect to its traveling direction. The spatulas 1 and 2 equally inject the beads from the spacer supply device 15 deposited on the spacer supply substrate 9 into the holes 19 of the spacer supply substrate 9 .

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 9 to 17 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for fabricating a bead spacer on a thin film transistor array panel using an apparatus for fabricating a spacer for an LCD will be described in detail.

9 is a layout diagram of a first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating depositing bead spacers on the first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 11 is a view showing a step of equally injecting dripped bead spacers into a plurality of holes on the first spacer supply substrate. 12 is a layout diagram of a first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein bead spacers have been injected into the holes, and FIG. 13 is a first spacer supply according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Layout of the substrate, FIG. 14 is a layout of the first spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein bead spacers have been injected into the holes, and FIG. 15 shows an exemplary implementation of the present invention way, a view of the step of transcribing bead spacers from a first spacer supply substrate onto the surface of a transcription roller. Figure 16 is a view showing the step of transcribing the bead spacers that have been transcribed onto the transcribing roll from the surface of the transcribing roll to the thin film transistor array plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention A view of a step of hardening a bead spacer provided on a thin film transistor array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of .

9 to 13, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first spacer supply substrate 9a has a plurality of holes 19a, and these holes 19a are the same as the bead spacer groups 320a to be provided on the thin film transistor array board 100. arrangement is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 10, a mixture 322a comprising a plurality of beads 320a and a thermosetting material or UV hardener 321 is deposited on a first spacer supply substrate 9a having a plurality of holes 19a using a spacer supply apparatus 15a.

Beads 321a may include organic materials with a low dielectric constant, such as polymerizable acrylic-based (acrylic acid) organic compounds, Teflon, benzocyclobutene (BCB) or perfluorocyclobutene (PFCB) .

A thermosetting material or UV curing agent 321 causes bead spacer set 320a to adhere to the plate.

Referring to FIG. 11, the mixture 322a is injected into the plurality of holes 19a formed on the first spacer supply substrate 9a using spatulas 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. Each well 19a is filled with a plurality of beads 321a, for example six to ten beads 321a.

Referring to FIG. 12, bead spacer groups 320a are injected at regular intervals into a region corresponding to the peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member 310, and into the spacer supply substrate 9a along the edge of the display region.

Referring to FIG. 14, similar to the spacer supply substrate 9a shown in FIG. 12, the bead-shaped spacer group 320a is injected into an area corresponding to the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member 310, while being different from that shown in FIG. The spacer supply substrate 9a, injects the bead spacer group 320a into the area corresponding to the display area at regular intervals.

However, the number and arrangement of these holes 19a may be variously changed depending on the arrangement of the bead spacer groups 320a arrayed on the LCD.

As shown in FIG. 15, the bead spacer group 320a injected into the hole 19a of the first spacer supply substrate 9a is transcribed onto the transcription sheet 33 of the transcription roller 14 by rotating the transcription roller 14 in one direction. Thus, bead spacer groups 320a are attached to the transcription sheet 33 of the transcription roller 14 at the same intervals as the holes 19a.

Referring to FIG. 16 , the transcription roller 14 having the bead spacer group 320a attached to its surface rotates in one direction on the substrate 110 to transcribe the bead spacer group 320a onto the substrate 110 . In this way, the bead spacer group 320a is attached at a predetermined position on the substrate 110 .

A thin film transistor Q respectively including a gate 124 , a gate insulating layer 140 , a semiconductor layer 150 , an ohmic contact layer 160 , a source 173 and a drain 175 , a passivation layer 180 , and a pixel electrode 190 may be formed on the substrate 110 . The bead spacer group 320a may be disposed on a region corresponding to the thin film transistor Q, or the bead spacer group 320a may be disposed in a region corresponding to the light blocking member 220 for preventing light leakage.

The bead spacer group 320a may be disposed in a peripheral region between the display region of the LCD and the sealing member 310 . The bead spacer group 320a maintains a constant cell gap and controls the velocity of the liquid crystal material in several directions to prevent the liquid crystal material from contacting the sealing member 310 before the sealing member 310 hardens.

As shown in FIG. 17 , the bead spacer group 320 a attached on the thin film transistor substrate 110 is hardened with heat or light such as ultraviolet rays to be firmly attached to the thin film transistor substrate 110 .

After the bead spacer group 320a is attached to the thin film transistor substrate 110, an alignment layer (not shown) may be formed thereon. Alternatively, an alignment layer (not shown) may be formed on the thin film transistor substrate 110 first, and then the bead spacer group 320a is attached.

Hereinafter, a method of forming a spacer on a common electrode plate of an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 18 to 27 .

18 is a layout diagram of a second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating depositing bead spacers on the second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 20 is a view showing a step of equally injecting dripped bead spacers into a plurality of holes on the second spacer supply substrate. 21 is a layout view of a second spacer-supplied substrate in which bead spacers have been injected into holes according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 22 is a layout view of a second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 23 is a layout diagram of a second spacer supply substrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein bead spacers have been injected into the holes, and FIG. View of the step in which spacers are transcribed from a second spacer supply substrate onto the surface of a transcription roll. Fig. 25 is a view showing the step of transcribing bead spacers that have been transcribed onto the transcribing roller from the surface of the transcribing roller to the common electrode plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. Exemplary embodiment, a view of the step of hardening the bead-shaped spacers provided on the common electrode plate, FIG. 27 is a view showing a combination of thin film transistor array plates respectively having hardened bead-shaped spacers according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. and a view of the steps of the common electrode plate.

The method of forming the spacer on the common electrode plate is similar to the method of forming the spacer on the thin film transistor plate shown in FIGS. 9 to 17 . However, if the size of the beads provided on the common electrode plate is different from that of the beads provided on the thin film transistor substrate, the holes formed on the second spacer supply substrate have the same shape as the holes formed on the first spacer supply substrate. The holes are of different sizes, and the arrangement of these holes is different from the arrangement of the holes on the thin film transistor substrate.

18 to 22, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second spacer supply substrate 9b has a plurality of holes 19b, and these holes 19b are basically identical to the bead spacer groups 320b to be provided on the common electrode plate 200. Arrange the same arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 19, a mixture 322b including a plurality of beads 321b and a thermosetting material or UV hardener 321 is deposited on the second spacer supply substrate 9b using the spacer supply apparatus 15b.

The beads 321b may include an organic material having a low dielectric constant, such as a polymerizable acrylic (acrylic acid) organic compound, such as Teflon, benzocyclobutene (BCB), or perfluorocyclobutene (PFCB).

The bead 321b may have a different size or elasticity than the bead 321a described in FIGS. 9 to 17 . For example, bead 321b may be larger than bead 321a. The bead 321a and the bead 321b may have the same size but different elasticities, ie, the bead 321b may have a lower elastic coefficient than the bead 321a.

As shown in FIG. 20 , the mixture 322 b is injected into the plurality of holes 19 b formed on the second spacer supply substrate 9 b using spatulas 1 and 2 . Each well 19b is filled with a plurality of beads 321b, for example six to ten beads 321b.

If the bead spacer group 320b is larger than the bead spacer group 320a, the size of the hole 19b formed in the second spacer supply substrate 9b is also larger than the hole 19a.

21, the bead spacer group 320b is injected at regular intervals into the area corresponding to the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member 310, and the bead spacer group 320b is injected at regular intervals into the region corresponding to the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member 310. within the display area. As shown in FIG. 22, similar to the spacer supply substrate shown in FIG. 21, the bead spacer group 320b is injected into an area corresponding to the peripheral area between the display area and the sealing member 310, and the bead spacer Groups 320b are injected at regular intervals throughout the display area.

However, the number and arrangement of these holes 19b may be variously changed depending on the arrangement of the bead spacer groups 320b arrayed on the LCD.

As shown in FIG. 24, the bead spacer group 320b injected into the hole 19b of the second spacer supply substrate 9b is transcribed onto the transcription sheet 33 of the transcription roller 14 by rotating the transcription roller 14 in one direction. Thus, bead spacer groups 320b are attached to the transcription sheet 33 of the transcription roller 14 at the same intervals as the holes 19b.

Referring to FIG. 25 , the transcription roller 14 having the bead spacer group 320b attached to its surface rotates in one direction on the substrate 210 , thereby transcribing the bead spacer group 320b onto the substrate 210 .

In this way, the bead spacer group 320b is attached at a predetermined position on the substrate 210 .

The color filter 230 , the light blocking member 220 , the overcoat layer 250 and the common electrode 270 may be formed on the substrate 210 . The bead spacer group 320b may be disposed on the light blocking member 220 .

The bead spacer group 320b may be disposed in a peripheral region between the display region of the LCD and the sealing member 310 . The bead spacer group 320b disposed in the peripheral area between the display area of the LCD and the sealing member 310 can maintain a constant cell gap, and can control the velocity of the liquid crystal material in several directions to avoid the liquid crystal material being trapped in the sealing member 310. Contact the sealing member 310 before hardening.

Set of bead spacers 320b may be arranged such that set of bead spacers 320b does not overlap with set of bead spacers 320a.

An alignment layer (not shown) may be formed after the bead spacer group 320b is attached on the substrate 210, or the bead spacer group 320b may be attached after the alignment layer is formed.

As shown in FIG. 26, the bead spacer group 320b attached on the common electrode substrate 210 is hardened with heat or light such as ultraviolet rays.

Referring to FIG. 27, two display panels 100 and 200 are combined with bead spacer set 320a and bead spacer set 320b.

The sealing member 310 is first formed on the outermost portion of one of the display panels 100 and 200, and then a liquid crystal material (not shown) is deposited in the display area surrounded by the bead spacer group 320a and the bead spacer group 320b. , and then align and press the display panels 100 and 200 to combine.

As shown in FIG. 27, a plurality of bead-shaped spacer groups 320a and a plurality of bead-shaped spacer groups 320b are arranged closely and alternately at regular intervals in the peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member 310, and the bead-shaped The spacer groups 320a and 320b are disposed within the display area at regular intervals, for example, one interval per a plurality of pixels.

The bead spacer groups 320 a and 320 b may be attached to one of the display panels 100 and 200 .

In the method of fabricating an LCD according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the bead spacer groups 320a and 320b may be simultaneously formed at desired positions. In addition, the bead spacer groups 320a and 320b may be closely disposed in the peripheral region between the display region and the sealing member 310 to function as a bank preventing the liquid crystal material from contacting the unhardened sealant.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments, but rather, the present invention shall cover all various changes and equivalent features falling within the spirit and scope of the claims.

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2005-0102363 and 10-2005-0133584 filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 28, 2005 and December 29, 2005, respectively, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (26)

1. LCD comprises:

First substrate with viewing area and surrounding zone, described first substrate comprises a plurality of pixels that are formed in the described viewing area;

Second substrate in the face of described first substrate;

Be arranged on the containment member of surrounding zone edge, and wherein said first substrate and described second substrate in combination are got up; And

Be arranged on a plurality of first pearl sept groups and a plurality of second pearl sept group between described first substrate and described second substrate;

Wherein, the described first pearl sept group and the described second pearl sept group have the size that differs from one another or different elasticity coefficient, and comprise a plurality of pearls respectively, and

Wherein, the first pearl sept group and the second pearl sept group that is arranged in the described surrounding zone between described viewing area and the described containment member alternately arranged at regular intervals.

2. LCD as claimed in claim 1 also comprises being formed on described second substrate and a plurality of resistance light members overlapping with the described second pearl sept group.

3. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described first pearl sept group and the described second pearl sept group do not overlap each other.

4. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the described first pearl sept group also is arranged near the center, viewing area, the described second pearl sept group also be arranged on described edge of display area around.

5. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described first pearl sept group and the described second pearl sept group also are arranged in the described viewing area, and arrange according to ground of per six pixels respectively.

6. LCD as claimed in claim 5, wherein, the first pearl sept group and the second pearl sept group that are arranged in the described viewing area are alternately arranged according to ground of per three pixels.

7. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described first pearl sept group and the described second pearl sept group are arranged on respectively on described first substrate and described second substrate.

8. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described first pearl sept group and the described second pearl sept group are attached on one of them of described first and second substrates.

9. LCD as claimed in claim 1 also comprises:

Be formed on grid line and data line on described first substrate;

Be connected to the thin film transistor (TFT) of described grid line and described data line; And

Be connected to the pixel electrode of described thin film transistor (TFT).

10. LCD as claimed in claim 1 also comprises:

Be formed on the color filter on described second substrate; With

Be formed on the public electrode on the described color filter.

11. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the pearl of the described first pearl sept group is littler than the pearl of the described second pearl sept group.

12. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the pearl of the described first pearl sept group has the lower elasticity coefficient of pearl than the described second pearl sept group.

13. LCD as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the described second pearl sept group also is arranged near the center, described viewing area, and the described first pearl sept group also is arranged near the edge of described viewing area the described viewing area.

14. LCD as claim 13, wherein, be arranged on the first pearl sept group in the described viewing area and the second pearl sept group and arrange according to ground of per three pixels, be arranged on the first pearl sept group in the surrounding zone between described viewing area and the described containment member and the second pearl sept group closely, alternately arrangement.

15. a method of making LCD comprises:

The described first pearl sept group is supplied on the substrate attached to first sept;

The first pearl sept group on described first sept supply substrate is transcribed first transcribes on the surface of roller;

The described first first pearl sept group of transcribing on the roller is transcribed on first substrate;

The described second pearl sept group is attached on second sept supply substrate;

The second pearl sept group on described second sept supply substrate is transcribed second transcribes on the surface of roller;

The described second second pearl sept group of transcribing on the roller is transcribed on second substrate;

Liquid crystal material is deposited at least one of described first and second substrates; And

Described first and second substrate in combination are got up,

Wherein said LCD has viewing area and surrounding zone, and containment member is arranged on the edge of described surrounding zone, and

The first pearl sept group and the second pearl sept group that wherein are arranged in the described surrounding zone between described viewing area and the described containment member are alternately arranged at regular intervals.

16. as the method for claim 15, wherein, described first and second septs supply substrate has a plurality of holes; And

Adhering to the described first pearl sept group or the second pearl sept group comprises the pearl of the described first or second pearl sept group is injected in the into described hole.

17. as the method for claim 15, wherein, the described first pearl sept group and the second pearl sept group are the pearls that can keep constant cell gap between described first substrate and second substrate.

18. as the method for claim 15, wherein, the described first pearl sept group and the second pearl sept group are to control the burrock of the speed of described liquid crystal material.

19. as the method for claim 15, wherein, the described first pearl sept group and the second pearl sept group are supplied on the substrate at described first and second septs with adhesive attachment.

20. as the method for claim 19, wherein, described bonding agent comprises thermosetting material or UV-cured dose.

21. the method as claim 20 also comprises;

Transcribing after the first pearl sept group on the roller transcribes on described first substrate described first, with described first exposure of substrates in heat or light.

22. the method as claim 21 also comprises:

Transcribing after the second pearl sept group on the roller transcribes on described second substrate described second, with described second exposure of substrates in heat or light.

23. as the method for claim 16, wherein, the size that the size in hole and described second sept are supplied hole on the substrate on described first sept supply substrate is different.

24. as the method for claim 16, wherein, fill with a plurality of pearls in hole on described first sept supply substrate and the hole on described second sept supply substrate.

25. as the method for claim 15, wherein, the described first pearl sept group has size different with the described second pearl sept group or different elasticity coefficient.

26. as the method for claim 15, wherein, described first pearl sept group and the described second pearl sept group do not overlap each other.

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