KR101768477B1 - Liquid Crystal Display Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device in which the shape and arrangement of column spacers are different from each other to prevent defects of a light gap generated in a case where the substrates are mutually shifted due to an external force, the first and second substrates being opposed to each other; A plurality of gate lines and data lines which intersect with each other on the first substrate to define pixel regions, and a plurality of data lines which partially overlaps with the data lines on the gate lines, A second column spacer formed in the same shape as the first column spacer, the second column spacer overlapping with the data line on the gate line; And a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device,

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device in which the shape and arrangement of column spacers are different from each other to prevent defects of a light gap generated in an original after shifting the two substrates by an external force.

(PDP), Electro Luminescent Display (ELD), Vacuum Fluorescent (VFD), and the like have been developed in recent years in response to the demand for display devices. Display) have been studied, and some of them have already been used as display devices in various devices.

Among them, the LCD is the most widely used in place of a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) for the purpose of a portable image display device because of its excellent image quality, light weight, thinness and low power consumption, A television monitor for receiving and displaying a broadcast signal, a computer monitor, and the like.

In order to use such a liquid crystal display device as a general screen display device in various parts, it is said that it is important to realize high quality image such as high definition, high brightness, and large area while maintaining characteristics of light weight, thin shape and low power consumption .

Hereinafter, a conventional liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing a conventional liquid crystal display device.

1, a conventional liquid crystal display device comprises a first substrate 1 and a second substrate 2 which are bonded together with a predetermined space, and a second substrate 2, which is bonded between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, And a liquid crystal layer 3 formed on the substrate.

More specifically, on the first substrate 1, a plurality of gate lines 4 are formed in one direction at regular intervals to define a pixel region P, and a plurality of gate lines 4 are formed in a direction perpendicular to the gate line 4 A plurality of data lines 5 are arranged with an interval. A pixel electrode 6 is formed in each pixel region P and a thin film transistor T is formed at a portion where each gate line 4 and the data line 5 cross each other, And applies a data signal of the data line 5 to each pixel electrode 6 according to a signal applied to the pixel electrode 6.

A black matrix layer 7 is formed on the second substrate 2 to block light from the pixel region P except for the pixel region P. A portion corresponding to each pixel region is provided with R G, and B color filter layers 8 are formed on the color filter layer 8. On the color filter layer 8, a common electrode 9 for realizing an image is formed.

The liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer 3 formed between the first and second substrates 1 and 2 is aligned by the electric field between the pixel electrode 6 and the common electrode 9, An image can be expressed by adjusting the amount of light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer 3 according to the degree of orientation of the liquid crystal layer 3.

Spacers are formed between the first and second substrates 1 and 2 of the thus formed liquid crystal display device to maintain a constant interval at which the liquid crystal layer is formed.

Such a spacer is divided into a ball spacer or a column spacer depending on its shape.

The column spacer 20 selected according to a request to form the spacer at a fixed position is positioned between the first and second substrates 1 and 2 in a cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. The first and second substrates 1 and 2 are supported such that the thickness of the first and second substrates 1 and 2 is maintained.

The column spacer 20 is formed corresponding to the black matrix layer 7.

Fig. 2 is a photograph showing the light beam defects of Fig. 1;

1, when the column spacer 20 is disposed at the same position on the black matrix layer 7 adjacent to the pixels of a specific color (R pixels in the drawing) Light beam defects occur at corresponding sites.

In order to reduce the deficiency of the light beam, a method of increasing the width of the black matrix layer 7 formed under the column spacer 20 is used. In this case, the aperture ratio is reduced and the brightness is reduced.

Hereinafter, the principle of occurrence of the above-described light beam defects will be described.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional liquid crystal display device, and FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are cross-sectional views showing a state of the liquid crystal display device according to the related art after its external force is applied.

Fig. 3 shows a conventional liquid crystal display device. In order to observe a change in external force generation, a first and a second substrates 1 and 2 opposed to each other, a column spacer 20 formed therebetween, 1 shows an alignment film 11 formed on the top surface of a substrate 1. As shown in Fig.

4A, when an external force is applied to push the column spacer 20 in one direction, the column spacer 20 scratched the alignment film 11, and even if the column spacer 20 is unfolded again, Damage is caused to the alignment film 11 in the portion subjected to the strongest pressure when it is applied. In this case, not only the peeling failure in which the alignment film 11 is directly peeled off but also the light alignment defects as shown in Fig. 2 appear at the position where the alignment film damage is caused by the slight change of the basic alignment direction.

The conventional liquid crystal display device has the following problems.

The column spacer is positioned at the same position of the black matrix layer. When an external force for shifting both substrates is applied, the column spacer enters the pixel at an external force applied portion to scrape the alignment layer, The light leakage is caused by the damaged alignment layer.

When the column spacer is adjacent to only a pixel of a specific color, a defective light beam of a pixel of the corresponding color is generated. For example, a defect due to a column spacer adjacent to the R pixel is a red- A defect due to a column spacer adjacent to a pixel is a green-eye defect, and a defect caused by a column spacer adjacent to a pixel B is called a blue-eye defect.

The present invention has been devised to solve the problems described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display device in which the shape and arrangement of column spacers are different from each other, It has its purpose.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; a plurality of gate lines and data lines crossing the first substrate to define pixel regions; A first column spacer formed on the gate line, the first column spacer overlapping with the data line and a part of the left side, the first column spacer being formed to have a width longer than a half of the pixel width in the gate line direction; A second column spacer formed in the same shape as the first column spacer, the second column spacer overlapping with a right portion of the first column spacer; And a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

Here, the data line forming region has a step higher than the pixel region.

A black matrix layer formed on the second substrate in a region excluding the pixel region; And first to third color filter layers of different colors formed corresponding to the pixel region.

The first and second column spacers may be formed on the black matrix layer.

It is preferable that the first column spacer and the second column spacer are arranged in the same number. The first column spacer and the second column spacer may be alternately arranged.

The first column spacer and the second column spacer may correspond to each other on a color filter layer of the same color, and the first column spacer and the second column spacer may correspond to each other on a color filter layer of a different color.

The first column spacer and the second column spacer have a long rectangular plane in the gate line direction. In some cases, the first column spacer and the second column spacer may have a long elliptical plane in the gate line direction.

The length of the first column spacer and the second column spacer is preferably less than the width of the pixel, and the length of the first column spacer and the second column spacer is at least 1 mu m and preferably less than the longitudinal width of the gate line Do.

Here, a semiconductor layer may be further formed under the data line.

The liquid crystal display of the present invention as described above has the following effects.

Any one of the first and second column spacers formed partially overlapping the data line having the step difference in any direction of the vertical, left, right, and crossed directions of the column spacer due to external force is supported on the data line of the shifted region And enters the remaining pixel region, it does not touch the alignment film on the lower substrate, and scratching or damage of the alignment film can be prevented. Therefore, defects in the light leakage due to this can be prevented.

In addition, since the alignment layer is prevented from being damaged by the planar shape and arrangement of the column spacer without increasing the width of the black matrix layer, it is expected that the aperture ratio is increased and the brightness is improved.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional liquid crystal display
Fig. 2 is a photograph showing the light-
3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional liquid crystal display
4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing the state of the liquid crystal display device after applying an external force thereto in a conventional liquid crystal display device
5 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the process from I to I 'and II to II'
7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention
8 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention
Figs. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view at the first shift in Fig. 8
Figs. 10A and 10B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view at the second shift in Fig. 8
11A and 11B are a plan view and a sectional view at the time of the third shift in Fig. 8
12A and 12B are plan views showing various column spacers of the liquid crystal display of the present invention

Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a process sectional view taken along line I-I 'and II-II' of FIG.

5, the first embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a first substrate 100 and a second substrate 200 opposed to each other, A thin film transistor 130 formed at an intersection of the gate line 102 and the data line 104 and a plurality of gate lines 102 and a plurality of data lines 104 defining the gate lines 102 and the data lines 104, A first column spacer 150a overlapping the data line 104 and a part of the left side and having a width W of a half of the pixel width P in the direction of the gate line 102, The second column spacer 150b formed in the same shape as the first column spacer 150a and the first column spacer 150b overlapping the data line 104 and the right portion on the line 102, And a liquid crystal layer 250 between the liquid crystal layer 200 and the liquid crystal layer 250.

Here, the pixel width P corresponds to a horizontal length of pixels repeated periodically, and corresponds to a value obtained by adding a data line width to a pixel area defined as a region between a gate line and a data line.

The first column spacer 150a overlapped with the data line 104 and the second column spacer 150b overlapped with the data line 104 are formed on the data line 104, The bottom surface contacts the top surface on the first substrate 100. For example, the first and second alignment films 115 and 205 are formed on the top surface of the first and second substrates 100 and 200, respectively. In this case, the first and second column spacers 150a and 150b, The second alignment film 205 on the lower surface of the data line 150b and the first alignment film 115 on the data line 104 directly contact each other.

A black matrix layer 201 formed on the second substrate 200 except for the pixel region, and first through third color filter layers (refer to 302 in FIG. 8) formed corresponding to the pixel region 5 is formed in an area corresponding to 122). In this case, the first to third color filter layers may be, for example, red, green, and blue color filter layers, and may further include a white color filter layer as the case may be, will be.

The first and second column spacers 150a and 150b are formed on the black matrix layer 201 to correspond to the first and second column spacers 150a and 150b. The first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b are formed symmetrically with respect to each other. For example, the first column spacer 150a is partially overlapped with the left data line, The column spacer 150b is formed by partially overlapping the data line on the right side.

The first column spacers 150a and the second column spacers 150b are preferably arranged in the same number. The first and second column spacers 150a and 150b are supported on the left and right data lines 104 at the same level in a region receiving the external force even if the liquid crystal display device exerts an external force which pushes the liquid crystal display device with a finger or the like in any direction It is for this reason.

For this, the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b are preferably disposed alternately.

Referring to the plan view of the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b, the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b have a long rectangular plane in the gate line direction.

It is preferable that the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b have a transverse length less than a transverse length of the pixel region and the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b It is preferable that the vertical length is 1 탆 or more and less than the vertical width of the gate line 102. Here, the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b are elongated in a transverse direction, so that even when an external force is generated at a certain portion and a shift occurs between the first and second substrates 100 and 200, And one of the second column spacers 150a and 150b corresponds to the data line 104. [ In this case, the data line 104 has a height higher than that of the other pixel regions and is formed higher than that of the other pixel regions. In a vertical cross section, the first alignment layer 115 on the data line 104, 1 and the second alignment layer 205 above the second column spacers 150a and 150b.

The layers formed on the first substrate 100 will be described.

The gate insulating layer 111 is formed between the gate line 102 and the data line 104 and the semiconductor layer 103 is further formed under the data line 104. Here, the semiconductor layer 103 may be omitted. However, when the semiconductor layer 103 and the data line 104 are patterned by the same mask process, the semiconductor layer 103 is formed under the data line 104 .

A protective layer 113 is further formed on the data line 104, and a first alignment layer 115 is formed thereon.

On the other hand, the pixel electrode 122 may be formed on the protective film 113 corresponding to the pixel region on the first substrate 100.

A common electrode 203 is formed on the entire surface of the second substrate 200 including the black matrix layer 201 and the color filter layer.

The first and second column spacers 150a and 150b are formed directly on the common electrode 203 and are formed on the common electrode 203 including the first and second column spacers 150a and 150b. A second alignment film 205 is further formed.

In the drawing, the first column spacer 150a and the second column spacer 150b correspond to adjacent color filter layers of the same color, but are not limited thereto. Further, as shown, it may be adjacent to the red color filter layer or may be adjacent to the color filter layer of another color.

In the following embodiments, the first and second column spacers corresponding to different colors will be described.

7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the liquid crystal display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, first and second column spacers 160a and 160b are formed adjacent to different color filter layers. It may be arranged corresponding to the arrangement of other colors as well as the corresponding left and right arrangement of the red (R) and blue (B) shown in the figure.

In any case, the first column spacer 160a and the second column spacer 160b are formed at symmetrical positions with respect to each other. For example, the first column spacer 160a may partially overlap the left data line And the second column spacer 160b is formed by partially overlapping the data line on the right side.

The first column spacers 160a and the second column spacers 160b may be disposed in the same number. The first and second column spacers 160a and 160b are supported on the left and right data lines 104 at the same level in a region receiving the external force even if the liquid crystal display device exerts an external force to push the liquid crystal display device with a finger or the like in any direction It is for this reason.

For this, the first column spacer 160a and the second column spacer 160b are preferably disposed alternately.

Meanwhile, the pixel electrode 122 and the common electrode 203 described above are provided to form a vertical electric field between the first and second substrates 100 and 200, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The common electrode and the pixel electrode may be disposed only on the first substrate 100. [ In this case, the common electrode and the pixel electrode may be alternately arranged in the pixel region, and the common electrode may be arranged in a plate shape and the pixel electrode may be arranged in a finger shape in different layers.

Hereinafter, a column spacer supporting structure in a shifted state when an external force is applied to the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

8 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 8, the third embodiment of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention shows only the arrangement on the second substrate, that is, the black matrix layer 301 corresponding to the region excluding the pixel region, First to third color filter layers 302a to 302c and a first column spacer 350a formed on a black matrix layer 301 corresponding to a left data line (not shown) The second column spacer 350b formed on the black matrix layer 301 corresponding to the second column spacer 350b.

Here, the portion of the black matrix layer formed in the horizontal direction corresponds to both the gate line and the common line formed on the first substrate, and corresponds to the portion of the black matrix layer formed in the vertical direction corresponding to the data line The width thereof is large.

A change in the sectional view when an external force is applied to the second substrate vertically to the first shift (1), a second shift (2) to tilt the second substrate vertically to the upper left, and a third shift (3) to tilt to the upper right are applied.

Figs. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view at the first shift in Fig.

As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, even when the first and second column spacers 350a and 350b enter the pixel region due to an external force during the first shift, the second alignment film 307 on each surface 1 orientation film 369, as shown in FIG. This is because the first alignment layer 369 and the second alignment layer 307 are in contact with each other on the data line 364 having a step height higher than that of the pixel region, The two alignment films 369 and 307 are held without touching. Therefore, damage to the first alignment film 369 can be prevented, and defective light leakage in the pixel region can be prevented.

9B is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 9B, reference numeral 360 denotes a first substrate, reference numeral 371 denotes a common electrode, 363 denotes a semiconductor layer, 362 denotes a gate insulating film, 365 denotes a protective film, and 367 denotes a pixel electrode. 368 may be omitted in some cases with a shielding pattern. Reference numeral 300 denotes a second substrate, and 307 denotes a second alignment film 307.

10A and 10B are a plan view and a sectional view at the time of the second shift in FIG.

10A and 10B, at the time of the second shift, the first column spacer 350a completely enters the pixel area, and the second column spacer 350b overlaps the data line 364. In this case, the second column spacer 350b serves to support between the first and second substrates 360 and 300.

11A and 11B are a plan view and a sectional view at the time of the third shift in Fig.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, in the third shift, as opposed to the second shift, the third column, the first column spacer 350b completely enters the pixel area, and the first column spacer 350a is the left column Line 364. < / RTI > In this case, the first column spacer 350a serves as a supporting function between the first and second substrates 360 and 300.

As described above, even if a shift occurs between the first and second substrates due to external force, at least one of the first and second column spacers 350a and 350b formed at least symmetrically corresponds to the upper portion of the data line, The spacer which is not responsible for the supporting function is spaced from the uppermost surface of the first substrate 360 on the relatively low pixel area even if it enters the pixel area so that the surface of the first alignment film in the pixel area can be prevented from being damaged . Therefore, when the first and second substrates 360 and 300 return to the original state after the external force disappears, defects of the light leakage due to damage of the alignment film can be prevented.

12A and 12B are plan views showing various column spacers of the liquid crystal display of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the column spacers 450 may overlap the data lines in the direction of the gate lines 102 instead of the rectangles described above, and may have a shape having a long elliptical plane on the gate lines, And may be formed in a dumbbell shape on the gate line 102 as shown in FIG. 12B (260). In either case, the lateral length (W) is equal to or larger than 1/2 of the pixel width (W) and less than or equal to the pixel width (W). Looking at its cross section, it is similar to a cylinder.

Also, the column spacer is not limited to this illustrated shape, but may be a polygonal column having a polygonal plane that maintains the width of the transverse dimension.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

100: first substrate 102: gate line
104: data line 150a: first column spacer
150b: second column spacer 122: pixel electrode
103: semiconductor layer 115: first alignment film
200: second substrate 201: black matrix layer
205: second alignment film

Claims (13)

A first substrate and a second substrate facing each other;
A plurality of gate lines and data lines crossing each other on the first substrate to define pixel regions;
A first column spacer formed on the gate line, the first column spacer overlapping with the data line and a part of the left side, the first column spacer being formed to have a width greater than or equal to 1/2 of the pixel width and less than or equal to the pixel width;
A second column spacer formed on the gate line so as to have the same shape as the first column spacer, the second column spacer overlapping with a right portion of the data line;
A first alignment layer and a second alignment layer provided on the uppermost surfaces of the first and second substrates, respectively; And
And a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates,
Wherein the first and second column spacers are formed on the same surface on the second substrate,
Wherein the second alignment film on the first and second column spacers contacts the first alignment film only on the intersection of the gate line and the data line and the first alignment film on the gate line outside the intersection of the gate line and the data line, Are separated from each other,
Wherein when the external force is applied, the first and second column spacers have fluidity integrally with the second substrate. The method according to claim 1,
And the formation region of the data line has a step higher than the pixel region. The method according to claim 1,
A black matrix layer formed on the second substrate in a region excluding the pixel region; And
And first to third color filter layers of different colors formed corresponding to the pixel region. The method of claim 3,
And the first and second column spacers are formed on the black matrix layer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first column spacer and the second column spacer are alternately arranged in the same number.
delete 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the first column spacer and the second column spacer correspond to a color filter layer of the same color. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the first column spacer and the second column spacer correspond to the color filter layers of different colors. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first column spacer and the second column spacer have a long rectangular plane in the gate line direction. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first column spacer and the second column spacer have a long elliptical plane in the gate line direction. delete The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the vertical length of the first column spacer and the second column spacer is 1 占 퐉 or more and less than the vertical width of the gate line. 3. The method of claim 2,
And a semiconductor layer is further formed under the data line.

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