KR100929670B1 - Liquid Crystal Display and Manufacturing Method Thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A first substrate; A pixel electrode formed on the first substrate; A second substrate spaced apart from the pixel electrode at a predetermined interval; A black matrix, a color filter, and a common electrode formed under the second substrate; A column spacer formed under the common electrode and having at least a portion of the side surface formed at an inclined surface of 45 ° to 85 °; A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal layer formed between a pixel electrode and a common electrode.

Description

Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof

1 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating forming column spacers of a liquid crystal display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating forming a column spacer of a liquid crystal display according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 illustrates a liquid crystal display according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating forming a column spacer of a liquid crystal display according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a liquid crystal display according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a diagram illustrating forming a column spacer of a liquid crystal display according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

3a; Front liquid crystal 3b; Back LCD

11; Lower alignment layer 21; Upper alignment layer                 

57a; Shear column spacer 57b; Back Column Spacer

58; Mask 58a; Block area of the mask

58b; Slit

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same.

In general, the liquid crystal display device includes an upper and lower substrate on which electrodes are formed and a liquid crystal material injected between the upper and lower substrates. It is supported by spacers scattered between the upper and lower substrates.

Such a liquid crystal display displays an image by applying an electric field to a liquid crystal material having dielectric anisotropy injected between two substrates by using an electrode, and adjusting the amount of light transmitted by adjusting the intensity of the electric field.

As the spacer, spherical irregularly distributed beads spacers and column spacers or rigid spacers formed in a predetermined pattern are used.

In general, the column spacer is formed in a desired pattern by coating, exposing and developing a photosensitive film on a color filter display panel. The column spacer may also be formed at the periphery of the pixel region, thereby preventing light leakage around the column spacer, thereby improving the contrast ratio. In addition, when the photosensitive film is applied, the thickness of the column spacer can be adjusted only by the rotational speed of the spin coating apparatus, so that the cell gap can be easily adjusted.

However, when the rubbing process is performed on the alignment layer after the column spacer is formed, rubbing is performed not only on the alignment layer but also on the top surface of the column spacer. Therefore, rubbing is not uniform due to the height difference existing between the alignment film and the upper surface of the column spacer. That is, rubbing is not performed or incompletely formed on the alignment layer adjacent to the column spacer. Therefore, rubbing is less likely on the alignment film adjacent to the column spacer, and thus, the disclination occurs in the crystal lattice of the alignment film. When the size is small, the screen is covered by a black matrix formed to correspond to the column spacer of the color filter panel. However, when the size is increased or a bad orientation occurs, light leakage occurs. In order to minimize such disclination, optimization may be made by changing the conditions of rubbing. However, excessively enhancing rubbing strength may damage the alignment layer in the normally oriented area and cause stains.

In addition, even when the column spacer is formed of the organic insulating layer so as to correspond to the switching elements of the thin film transistor display panel instead of the color filter display panel in the liquid crystal display device using the organic insulating layer, non-uniformity of rubbing due to the height difference between the column spacer and the alignment layer is problematic. .

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the improved orientation.

In order to achieve the above object, the liquid crystal display of the present invention comprises: a first substrate; A pixel electrode formed on the first substrate; A second substrate spaced apart from the pixel electrode at a predetermined interval; A black matrix, a color filter, and a common electrode formed under the second substrate; A column spacer formed below the common electrode and having at least a portion of a side surface formed of an inclined surface of 45 ° to 85 °; It is preferable to include a liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode.

In addition, the inclination angle of one end of the column spacer is preferably 45 ° to 85 °.

When the front end of the column spacer is referred to as a front column spacer and the rear end of the column spacer as a rear column spacer based on the rubbing direction, the inclination angle of the rear column spacer is 45 ° to 85 °. Do.

In addition, it is preferable that a step is further formed in the rear column spacer.

In addition, it is preferable that the inclination angles of both ends of the column spacer are 45 ° to 85 °, respectively.

In addition, it is preferable that the inclination angles of both ends of the column spacer are different from each other.

Also, when the front portion of the column spacer is referred to as a front column spacer and the rear portion of the column spacer as a rear column spacer based on the rubbing direction, the inclination angles of the front column spacer and the rear column spacer are 45 °, respectively. It is preferable that it is to 85 degrees.

In addition, it is preferable that a step is further formed on at least one of the front column spacer and the rear column spacer.

In addition, it is preferable that one to three stairs are formed.

In order to achieve the above object, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes forming a switching element, a pixel electrode, and a lower alignment layer on a first substrate; Forming a black matrix, a color filter, and a common electrode under the second substrate; Forming a column spacer corresponding to the black matrix on the common electrode, and forming at least a portion of a side surface of the column spacer by an inclined surface of 45 ° to 85 ° by using a mask having a slit; Rubbing the common electrode to form an upper alignment layer; The method may further include forming a liquid crystal layer between the upper alignment layer and the lower alignment layer.

In addition, the inclination angle of one end of the column spacer is preferably 45 ° to 85 °.

In addition, it is preferable to further form a step at one inclined end of the column spacer.

In addition, it is preferable that the inclination angles of both ends of the column spacer are 45 ° to 85 °, respectively.                     

In addition, it is preferable to further form a step on at least one of both inclined ends of the column spacer.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the specification. When a portion of a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is said to be "on top" of another part, this includes not only when the other part is "right on" but also another part in the middle. On the contrary, when a part is "just above" another part, there is no other part in the middle.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of wirings (not shown) and an image for transmitting an electrical signal such as a scan signal or an image signal on the lower substrate 110. A thin film transistor (not shown) that is a switching element for controlling a signal is formed. A pixel electrode 190 connected to the thin film transistor 50 to form an electric field to drive the liquid crystal molecules is formed on the lower substrate 110.

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

The upper substrate 210 is positioned above the lower alignment layer 11 at a predetermined interval. The black matrix 220, the color filter 230, and the common electrode 270 are formed under the upper substrate 210. Here, the black matrix 220 is formed in a matrix form to distinguish pixel areas. Red, green, and blue color filters 230 required to display an image are formed between the black matrices 220. A common electrode 270 that forms an electric field together with the pixel electrode 190 is formed under the color filter 230, and a plurality of column spacers 57 are formed under the common electrode 270. The column spacer 57 is formed to correspond to the black matrix 220. In addition, the cross-sectional structure of the column spacer has a gentle inclination on one side and a steep inclination on the other side, and is formed asymmetrically. The asymmetric columnar column spacer 57 supports the two substrates 110 and 210 in parallel to maintain a constant gap (cell gap) of the liquid crystal layer 3. The upper alignment layer 21 is formed under the common electrode 270.

As described above, when one inclined surface of the column spacer 57 is gently formed and the rubbing proceeds from the steeper side to the inclined side, the rubbing is prevented from being incomplete in the portion adjacent to the column spacer 57. have.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the rubbing direction is the A direction, the upper alignment layer adjacent to the column spacer 57 and positioned in front of the column spacer 57 based on the A direction is the front alignment layer 21a and the front alignment layer. Liquid crystals positioned at 21a are adjacent to the front liquid crystal 3a, the column spacer 57, and the upper alignment layer positioned behind the column spacer 57 with respect to the A direction is the rear alignment layer 21b, and the rear alignment layer 21b. The liquid crystals positioned at the back side are called back liquid crystals 3b.                     

In the case where the front side alignment layer 21a is referred to as the front side column spacer 57a and the rear side alignment layer 21b as the rear end column spacer 57b among both ends of the column spacer 57, The rear column spacer 57b is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle α.

As shown in FIG. 1, the predetermined angle α is preferably 45 ° to 85 °. When the inclination angle of the rear column spacer is smaller than 45 °, the column spacer is formed to have a wider width than the black matrix, and the aperture ratio becomes worse. When the inclination angle of the column spacer is 90 °, the step difference between the column spacer 57 and the upper alignment layer 21 becomes large. In this case, rubbing is not completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b so that the rear liquid crystal 3b is properly aligned. can not do. However, when the rear column spacer 57b is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle α as in the first embodiment of the present invention, rubbing is completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b, so that the rear liquid crystal 3b is properly aligned. .

The liquid crystal layer 3 is formed between the upper alignment layer 21 and the lower alignment layer 11 so that the liquid crystals are aligned in the alignment directions of the upper and lower alignment layers 21 and 11.

A backlight (not shown) is disposed under the lower substrate 110 as a light source.

Next, a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The switching element 50 and the pixel electrode 190 are formed on the lower substrate 110. As the switching element 50, the thin film transistor 50 is preferable. Then, rubbing is performed on the pixel electrode 190 to form the lower alignment layer 11.

The black matrix 220, the color filter 230, and the common electrode 270 are formed under the upper substrate 210. A column spacer 57 is formed below the common electrode 270 to correspond to the black matrix 220.

2 shows forming a column spacer of the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the column spacer 57 is formed by exposing and developing the photosensitive film using the mask 58. In this case, a slit 58b is formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 so that a slope is formed at one end of the column spacer 57. That is, when the rubbing direction is the A direction, the inclination is formed in the rear column spacer 57b, and the slit 58b is formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 so that the front column spacer 57a is formed vertically. do. In this case, the inclination angle α of the rear column spacer 57b is preferably 45 ° to 85 °.

For example, two slits 58b are formed in FIG. 2, and slits 58b are formed at positions far from the left end of the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the shear column spacer 57a. The slit 58b is formed at a position close to the right end of the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the rear column spacer 57b. That is, the blocking region 58a becomes narrower from the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the front column spacer 57a to the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the rear column spacer 57b. The slit 58b is formed so as to lose.

The mask 58 having the slits 58b formed thereon may be inclined to the rear column spacer 57b.

Then, rubbing is performed on the common electrode 270 to form the upper alignment layer 21. Since the inclination is formed in the rear column spacer 57b, the rubbing is completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b adjacent to the rear column spacer 57b during the rubbing process. Therefore, the back liquid crystal 3b located in the back alignment film 21b is aligned correctly.

 The liquid crystal layer 3 is formed between the upper alignment layer 21 and the lower alignment layer 11.

 A liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. Here, the same reference numerals as in the above-described drawings indicate the same members having the same function.

As shown in FIG. 3, the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b are formed. In this case, when the inclination angle of the rear column spacer 57b is α and the inclination angle of the front column spacer 57a is β, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that α or β are 45 ° to 85 °, respectively. Do.

If the inclination angle α of the rear column spacer is smaller than 45 °, the column spacer is formed with a width wider than that of the black matrix, resulting in poor aperture ratio, and the inclination angle of the rear column spacer is greater than 85 °, or the rear column spacer is perpendicular to the alignment layer. In other words, when the inclination angle of the column spacer is 90 °, the step difference between the column spacer 57 and the upper alignment layer 21 becomes large. In this case, rubbing is not completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b. ) Does not sort correctly. The same is true of the shear column spacer.

Since both the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b are formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle, rubbing is completely performed on both the front alignment layer 21a and the rear alignment layer 21b so that the front liquid crystal 3a and the rear liquid crystal ( 3b) sorts properly. Further, the inclinations formed in the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b may be asymmetric with each other.

Next, a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The switching element 50 and the pixel electrode 190 are formed on the lower substrate 110. As the switching element 50, the thin film transistor 50 is preferable. Then, rubbing is performed on the pixel electrode 190 to form the lower alignment layer 11.

The black matrix 220, the color filter 230, and the common electrode 270 are formed under the upper substrate 210. The column spacer 57 is formed on the common electrode 270 to correspond to the black matrix.

4 illustrates the formation of column spacers of the liquid crystal display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the column spacer 57 is formed by forming a photoresist film on the common electrode 270 and exposing and developing the mask 58 using a mask 58. In this case, slits 58b are formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 so that inclinations are formed at both ends of the column spacer 57. That is, the slits 58b are formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 so that the inclination is formed in the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b.

For example, four slits 58b are formed in FIG. 4, and the slits 58b are not formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center of the column spacer.

 A slit 58b is formed at the center of the column spacer, that is, at a position far from the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center column spacer 57c, and the mask 58 corresponding to the front column spacer 57a. The slit 58b is formed in the position close to the left end of the blocking area | region 58a of (). The slit 58b is formed at a position close to the right end of the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the rear column spacer 57b. That is, the blocking area 58a is narrower from the blocking area 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center column spacer 57c to the blocking area 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the front column column spacer 57a. The slit 58b is formed so as to lose. The slit (slit) is narrowed from the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center column spacer to the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the rear column spacer 57b. 58b) is formed.

Incline may be formed on the front and rear column spacers 57a and 57b using the mask 58 on which the slits 58b are formed.

Then, rubbing is performed on the common electrode 270 to form the upper alignment layer 21. Since slopes are formed in the front and rear column spacers 57a and 57b, rubbing is completely performed on the front and rear alignment layers 21a and 21b adjacent to the front and rear column spacers 57a and 57b during the rubbing process. Therefore, the front liquid crystal 3a and the back liquid crystal 3b positioned in the front alignment film and the rear alignment film 21a, 21b, respectively, are aligned properly.

 The liquid crystal layer 3 is formed between the upper alignment layer 21 and the lower alignment layer 11.

A liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. Here, the same reference numerals as in the above-described drawings indicate the same members having the same function.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rear column spacer 57b is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle, and one step is formed.

The trailing column spacer is divided into two slopes by steps. When the two inclination angles of the rear column spacer are α1 and α2, respectively, it is preferable that α1 and α2 are 45 ° to 85 °, respectively. These α1 and α2 may be the same or may be different from each other.

When the inclination angle of the rear column spacer is smaller than 45 °, the column spacer is formed to have a wider width than the black matrix, and the aperture ratio becomes worse. When the inclination angle of the column spacer is 90 °, the step difference between the column spacer 57 and the upper alignment layer 21 becomes large. In this case, rubbing is not completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b so that the rear liquid crystal 3b is properly aligned. can not do.

However, in the case of the third embodiment of the present invention, rubbing is completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b, so that the rear liquid crystal 3b is properly aligned.

Therefore, since the rubbing is completely performed without lowering the height of the column spacer 57, the cell gap can be kept constant.

Next, a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, the column spacer 57 is formed by exposing and developing the photosensitive film using the mask 58. In this case, a slit 58b is formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 so that a slope and a step are formed at one end of the column spacer 57. It is preferable that these steps be one to three.

The mask 58 having such slits 58b may be used to form a slope and a step in the rear column spacer 57b. In this case, the stairs can be formed by using a semipermeable material for the blocking region 58a.

Then, rubbing is performed on the common electrode 270 to form the upper alignment layer 21. Since the inclination and the step are formed in the rear column spacer 57b, rubbing is completely performed on the rear alignment layer 21b adjacent to the rear column spacer 57b during the rubbing process. Therefore, the back liquid crystal 3b located in the back alignment film 21b is aligned correctly.

 A liquid crystal display according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7. Here, the same reference numerals as in the above-described drawings indicate the same members having the same function.

As shown in FIG. 7, slopes and steps are formed in both the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b. Both the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b are formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle, and a step is formed between the slopes. The front column spacer and the rear column spacer are divided into two slopes by steps. When the two inclination angles of the rear column spacer are α1 and α2 and the two inclination angles of the front column spacer are β1 and β2, respectively, it is preferable that α1, α2, β1 and β2 are 45 ° to 85 °, respectively. These α1 and α2 may be the same or may be different from each other. Further, β1 and β2 may be the same as or different from each other.

 In this case, rubbing is completely performed on both the front alignment layer 21a and the rear alignment layer 21b so that the front liquid crystal 3a and the rear liquid crystal 3b are properly aligned. It is preferable that these steps be one to three. Further, the inclinations and steps formed in the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b may be asymmetric with each other.

Next, a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the column spacer is formed by forming a photosensitive film on the common electrode and exposing and developing using a mask 58. In this case, slits 58b are formed in the blocking area 58a of the mask 58 so that slopes and steps are formed at both ends of the column spacer. That is, the slits 58b are formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 so that the inclination and the steps are formed in the front column spacer 57a and the rear column spacer 57b.

For example, four slits 58b are formed in FIG. 8, and no slits 58b are formed in the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center of the column spacer.

 A slit 58b is formed at a position far from the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center column spacer 57c, and the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the front column spacer 57a. The slit 58b is formed in the near position from the left end part of (). The slit 58b is formed at a position close to the right end of the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the rear column spacer 57b. That is, the slit (slit) becomes narrower from the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center column spacer to the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the front column spacer 57a. 58b) is formed. The slit (slit) is narrowed from the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the center column spacer to the blocking region 58a of the mask 58 corresponding to the rear column spacer 57b. 58b) is formed.

The mask 58 having such slits 58b may be used to form slopes and steps in the front and rear column spacers 57a and 57b. In this case, the stairs can be formed by using a semipermeable material for the blocking region 58a.

Then, rubbing is performed on the common electrode 270 to form the upper alignment layer 21. Since slopes and steps are formed in the front and rear column spacers 57a and 57b, rubbing is completely performed on the front and rear alignment layers 21b adjacent to the front and rear column spacers 57a and 57b, respectively, during the rubbing process. Therefore, the front liquid crystal 3a and the back liquid crystal 3b which are respectively located in the front alignment film 21a and the rear alignment film 21b are aligned correctly.                     

Although the present invention has been described with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, this is merely exemplary, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible. Could be. Accordingly, the true scope of protection of the invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

The liquid crystal display according to the present invention has an advantage in that rubbing is uniformly formed at one end or both ends of the column spacer formed on the color filter display panel so that rubbing is uniformly performed.

In addition, there is an advantage that the rubbing can be made uniformly by forming an inclination and a step at one end or both ends of the column spacer.

In addition, since the rubbing is made uniform, there is an advantage of preventing light leakage and improving the orientation force.

Claims (14)

A first substrate; A pixel electrode formed on the first substrate; A second substrate spaced apart from the pixel electrode at a predetermined interval; A black matrix, a color filter, and a common electrode formed under the second substrate; A column spacer formed under the common electrode; Liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode Including, An inclination angle of the rear column spacer is 45 ° to 85 ° when the front end of the column spacer is a front column spacer and the rear end of the column spacer is a rear column spacer based on a rubbing direction. delete delete In claim 1, And a staircase is further formed on the rear column spacer. delete A first substrate; A pixel electrode formed on the first substrate; A second substrate spaced apart from the pixel electrode at a predetermined interval; A black matrix, a color filter, and a common electrode formed under the second substrate; A column spacer formed under the common electrode; Liquid crystal layer formed between the pixel electrode and the common electrode Including, A liquid crystal display device having different inclination angles at both ends of the column spacer. In claim 6, When the front portion of the column spacer is referred to as a front column spacer and the rear portion of the column spacer as a rear column spacer based on a rubbing direction, the inclination angle of the front column spacer is 45 ° to 85 °, and the rear column spacer The inclination angle of the liquid crystal display device is 45 ° to 85 °. In claim 7, And a staircase is further formed on at least one of the front column spacer and the rear column spacer. In claim 4 or 8, And one or three staircases are formed. Forming a switching element, a pixel electrode, and a lower alignment layer on the first substrate; Forming a black matrix, a color filter, and a common electrode under the second substrate; Forming a column spacer corresponding to the black matrix on the common electrode, and forming at least a portion of a side surface of the column spacer by an inclined surface of 45 ° to 85 ° by using a mask having a slit; Rubbing the common electrode to form an upper alignment layer; Forming a liquid crystal layer between the upper alignment layer and the lower alignment layer Including, And forming a staircase at one inclined end of the column spacer. delete delete In claim 10, A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, wherein the inclination angles of both ends of the column spacer are 45 ° to 85 °. In claim 13, A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device further comprising forming a staircase on at least one of both inclined ends of the column spacer.

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