KR20030079429A - Liquid Crystal Display Device and Method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A liquid crystal display device and a method for fabricating the same are provided to form dummy column spacers having openings and dot line type dummy column spacers on the dummy areas for controlling the flow of liquid crystal smoothly. CONSTITUTION: A liquid crystal display device includes upper and lower substrates(200,100), and a UV curing sealant(300) formed on edge areas between the substrates. Dummy column spacers(260) are formed for controlling the flow of the liquid crystal in the UV curing sealant among dummy areas outside pixel areas. The pixel areas are formed with column spacers which keep a cell gap between the substrates. The dummy column spacers are formed with the same height with the column spacers and have an opening(262) at least at a corner via which the liquid crystal flows toward the corner area.

Description

Liquid Crystal Display Device and Method of Manufacturing the Same

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device by a liquid crystal dropping method and a manufacturing method thereof.

Ultra-thin flat panel displays with a display screen thickness of only a few centimeters (cm). Among them, liquid crystal displays have low operating voltages, which consume less power and can be used as portable devices. Applications range from monitors to spacecraft to aircraft.

Such a liquid crystal display device generally includes a lower substrate 1 having a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode formed thereon, facing the lower substrate 1, as shown in FIG. 1, and a light blocking film, a color filter layer, and It consists of the upper substrate 3 in which the common electrode is formed, and the liquid crystal layer 5 formed between the said board | substrates 1,3.

Moreover, the sealing material 7 is formed between the board | substrates 1 and 3 in order to prevent the said liquid crystal 5 from leaking, and to adhere | attach both board | substrates.

In the liquid crystal display device having such a structure, a method for forming the liquid crystal layer 5 between the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3 is conventionally bonded to the lower substrate and the upper substrate and then capillary phenomenon and pressure The vacuum injection method of injecting the liquid crystal between both substrates using a difference was used, but this method takes a long time to inject the liquid crystal, and thus, when the substrate becomes large, a problem arises that productivity is reduced.

Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, a new method called a liquid crystal dropping method has been proposed. Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device by a conventional liquid crystal dropping method will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2A to 2D are perspective views illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device by a conventional liquid crystal dropping method.

First, as shown in FIG. 2A, the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3 are prepared. Although not shown in the drawing, a plurality of gate wirings and data wirings are formed on the lower substrate 1 to intersect longitudinally and horizontally to define pixel regions, and thin film transistors are formed at intersections of the gate wirings and the data wirings, and the thin film transistors are formed. A pixel electrode connected to the electrode is formed in the pixel region.

In addition, a light shielding film is formed on the upper substrate 3 to block light leakage from the gate wiring, data wiring, and thin film transistor forming regions, and a color filter layer of red, green, and blue is formed thereon. The common electrode is formed thereon.

In addition, an alignment layer for initial alignment of liquid crystals is formed on the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the seal material 7 is coated on the lower substrate 1, and the liquid crystal 5 is dropped to form a liquid crystal layer.

In addition, a spacer (not shown) for maintaining a cell gap is formed on the upper substrate 3. The spacer may be a ball spacer formed by being scattered on a substrate or a column spacer attached and formed on the substrate.

In this case, in the liquid crystal dropping method, a liquid crystal layer is formed on the bonded substrate during the sealing process, which is a later process. When the thermosetting sealing material is used as the sealing material 7, the liquid may flow out while the sealing material is heated. UV (ultraviolet) hardening sealant is used.

Then, the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3 are bonded together as shown in FIG. 2C.

Then, the lower substrate 1 and the upper substrate 3 are adhered by irradiating UV through the UV irradiation device 9 to cure the seal member 7 as shown in FIG. 2D.

Thereafter, although not shown, a cell cutting process and a final inspection process are performed.

As described above, the liquid crystal dropping method has a shorter time to form the liquid crystal layer than the vacuum injection method since the liquid crystals 5 are directly dropped on the lower substrate 1 and then the two substrates 1 and 3 are bonded together.

However, the liquid crystal dropping method is not easy to determine the exact amount of liquid crystal in consideration of the size of the substrate and the cell gap between the two substrates, there is a disadvantage as follows.

First, when the liquid crystal dropping amount is insufficient during liquid crystal dropping, an unfilled area is generated on the substrate, particularly in the four corner areas furthest from the center of the substrate, resulting in poor cell gap uniformity and deterioration of image characteristics. Problems arise.

Second, if the liquid crystal drop is excessive, the liquid crystal may be contaminated with the seal material before the seal material is cured.

Third, even if the dropping amount of the liquid crystal is accurately determined and dropped, it takes a predetermined time for the liquid crystal to spread to the corner region farthest from the center of the substrate. Therefore, when the unfilled region is generated because the liquid crystal does not spread to the edge region during the final inspection process, the final inspection process may not be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a uniform cell gap and improved image characteristics by preventing the occurrence of unfilled or overfilled regions because the liquid crystals are uniformly distributed on the entire surface of the substrate; It is to provide a manufacturing method.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a general liquid crystal display device.

2A to 2D are perspective views illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device by a conventional liquid crystal dropping method.

3 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4A to 4C are cross-sectional views according to various embodiments of the line I-I of FIG. 3, respectively.

5 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

7A to 7C are cross-sectional views according to various embodiments of the line I-I of FIG. 6, respectively.

8 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

10A through 10C are cross-sectional views according to various embodiments of the line I-I of FIG. 9, respectively.

11 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

12A and 12B are plan views of a liquid crystal display device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

13A to 13D are perspective views illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

14 is a perspective view illustrating a UV irradiation step of the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

1, 100: lower substrate 3, 200: upper substrate

210: light shielding layer 220: color filter layer

230: common electrode 240: overcoat layer

250: column spacer 260: dummy column spacer

270: dotted dummy column spacer 280: second dummy column spacer

7, 300: UV curing seal material 5, 500: liquid crystal

9, 600: UV irradiation apparatus 700: mask

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lower substrate and an upper substrate; A column spacer formed in the pixel region between the both substrates; A dummy column spacer for liquid crystal flow control formed in a dummy region between the substrates and having an opening formed in at least one corner region; A UV curable seal material formed on an outer portion of the dummy column spacer between the substrates; And it provides a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer formed between the both substrates.

The present invention also provides a process for preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; Forming a column spacer in the pixel region on the upper substrate and forming a dummy column spacer for liquid crystal flow control in the dummy region; Applying a UV-curable seal material to an outer portion of the dummy column spacer; Dropping liquid crystal onto the lower substrate; Bonding the substrates together; And it provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising the step of irradiating UV to the bonded substrate.

As described above, when the liquid crystal display device is manufactured by the conventional liquid crystal dropping method, it is not easy to precisely control the liquid crystal dropping amount so that an unfilled or overfilled region of the liquid crystal is generated in the active region where the image is reproduced. Even when the correct amount of liquid crystal was dropped, an unfilled region or an overfilled region could be generated.

Therefore, the present invention prevents unfilled liquid crystals by dropping the amount of liquid crystals measured in consideration of the gap between the gap and the substrate size, and at the same time, by forming a dummy column spacer in the dummy region to control the flow of liquid crystals to prevent the liquid crystals from appearing. It is not to be filled or overfilled.

In addition, the flow of the liquid crystal is controlled by the dummy column spacer to solve the problem that the liquid crystal is contaminated with the UV curing seal material.

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

First embodiment

3 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a lower substrate 100 and an upper substrate 200, and includes an UV-curable seal material in an outer region between the substrates 100 and 200. 300) is formed.

In addition, a column spacer (not shown) is formed in the pixel area (the 'A' line is an imaginary line for dividing the pixel area), and the inside of the UV-curable seal material 300 is located in the dummy area outside the pixel area. The dummy column spacer 260 for adjusting the liquid crystal flow is formed therein.

A liquid crystal layer (not shown) is formed between the substrates 100 and 200.

In this case, the column spacer is formed at the height of the cell gap between the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate 200 to serve to maintain the cell gap.

In addition, the dummy column spacer 260 is formed at the same height as the column spacer, and an opening 262 is formed in at least one corner region. Although openings 262 are formed in all four corner regions in the drawing, the openings 262 may be appropriately adjusted. The opening 262 may not be formed.

The dummy column spacer 260 acts as a moving path of the liquid crystal to prevent the unfilled region of the liquid crystal and prevent the liquid crystal from being contaminated by the UV-curable seal material 300.

That is, as shown by an arrow in the figure, the liquid crystal moves along the dummy column spacer 260 and moves to the corner region of the substrate through the opening 262 to prevent the liquid crystal from being filled in the corner region of the substrate. do.

In addition, the dummy column spacer 260 in the region where the opening 262 is not formed serves as a dam so that the liquid crystal does not directly meet and contaminate the UV-curable seal material 300.

Hereinafter, various embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C, which are cross-sectional views of various exemplary embodiments of the II line of FIG. 3 (which corresponds to a region where the opening 262 of the dummy column spacer 260 is not formed). It will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the light blocking layer 210, the color filter layer 220, and the common electrode 230 are sequentially formed on the upper substrate 200.

Although not shown, a gate wiring, a data wiring, a thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode are formed on the lower substrate 100.

In addition, a column spacer 250 is formed at a height of a cell gap in the pixel area on the upper substrate 200.

Since the column spacer 250 is formed in the gate wiring or data wiring forming region, the column spacer 250 is formed on the upper substrate 200 to prevent light from leaking into the gate wiring or data wiring. It is formed on the electrode 230.

In addition, a dummy column spacer 260 having the same height as the column spacer 250 is formed in the dummy region on the upper substrate 200.

The dummy column spacer 260 may be formed in any region of the dummy region excluding the pixel region if it is inside the UV-curable seal material 300. That is, in the drawing, the dummy column spacer 260 is formed on the common electrode 230 on which the color filter layer 220 is not formed, but the dummy column spacer 260 is formed on the common electrode 230 on which the color filter layer 220 is formed. It is also possible for the column spacer 260 to be formed.

As the column spacer 250 and the dummy column spacer 260, a photosensitive organic resin is preferably used.

In addition, an overcoat layer may be further formed between the color filter layer 220 and the common electrode 230 on the upper substrate 200, and further includes an upper substrate 200 and a lower portion including the dummy column spacer 260. An alignment layer (not shown) is formed on the substrate 100.

4B is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display according to another exemplary embodiment. In the above-described liquid crystal display of FIG. 4A, the common electrode 230 is not formed on the upper substrate 200, but the overcoat layer 240 is formed.

The liquid crystal display device according to FIG. 4B relates to a so-called IPS (In Plane Switching) mode liquid crystal display device, and the common electrode is formed on the lower substrate 100.

Accordingly, except that the column spacer 250 and the dummy column spacer 260 are formed on the overcoat layer 240, the others are the same as the liquid crystal display device of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to another exemplary embodiment. In the aforementioned liquid crystal display device of FIG. 4B, the overcoat layer 240 is formed on the light shielding film 210 and is patterned so as not to be formed on the seal material 300. . Other than that is the same as the liquid crystal display device shown in FIG.

Second embodiment

5 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the second embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having a dummy column spacer 260 having a plurality of openings 262 formed in a corner portion of a substrate.

Since the plurality of openings 262 are formed, the liquid crystal moves smoothly to the substrate edge area, thereby preventing the unfilled liquid.

The opening 262 may be formed in at least one corner region, and a plurality of openings 262 may be formed continuously or discontinuously.

Other than that is the same as that of 1st Embodiment mentioned above.

Third embodiment

6 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the liquid crystal display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a lower substrate 100 and an upper substrate 200, and includes an UV-curable seal material in an outer region between the substrates 100 and 200. 300) is formed.

In addition, a column spacer (not shown) is formed in the pixel area (the 'A' line is an imaginary line for dividing the pixel area), and the inside of the UV-curable seal material 300 is located in the dummy area outside the pixel area. The dummy column spacer 260 for adjusting the liquid crystal flow is formed therein. The dummy column spacer 260 is formed at the same height as the column spacer, and an opening 262 is formed in at least one corner region. The opening 262 may not be formed.

In addition, the inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer 260 is formed with a dotted dummy column spacer 270 to assist the liquid crystal flow control.

A liquid crystal layer (not shown) is formed between the substrates 100 and 200.

As such, by forming a dotted line dummy column spacer 270 inside the dummy column spacer 260, the liquid crystal moves along the space of the dotted line dummy column spacer 270 as well as the dummy column spacer 260. It will be able to control the flow of more smoothly.

Hereinafter, various embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C, which are cross-sectional views according to various embodiments of the II line of FIG. 6 (which corresponds to a region where the opening 262 of the dummy column spacer 260 is not formed). It will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the light blocking layer 210, the color filter layer 220, and the common electrode 230 are sequentially formed on the upper substrate 200.

Although not shown, a gate wiring, a data wiring, a thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode are formed on the lower substrate 100.

In addition, a column spacer 250 is formed at a height of a cell gap in the pixel area on the upper substrate 200.

In addition, a dummy column spacer 260 having the same height as the column spacer 250 is formed in the dummy region on the upper substrate 200.

In addition, a dotted dummy column spacer 270 having the same height as that of the column spacer 250 is formed in an inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer 260.

Although only one dotted dummy column spacer 270 is illustrated in FIG. 7A, a plurality of dotted dummy column spacers 270 may be formed. Further, the dotted dummy column spacer 270 may be formed in any area as long as it is a dummy area.

As the column spacer 250, the dummy column spacer 260, and the dotted dummy column spacer 270, it is preferable to use a photosensitive organic resin.

In addition, an overcoat layer may be further formed between the color filter layer 220 and the common electrode 230 on the upper substrate 200, and the dummy column spacer 260 and the dotted dummy column spacer 270 may be formed. An alignment layer (not shown) is formed on the upper substrate 200 and the lower substrate 100 including the upper substrate 200 and the lower substrate 100.

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to another exemplary embodiment. In the aforementioned liquid crystal display device of FIG. 7A, the common electrode 230 is not formed on the upper substrate 200, but the overcoat layer 240 is formed.

The LCD according to FIG. 7B relates to a so-called IPS (In Plane Switching) mode liquid crystal display device, and the common electrode is formed on the lower substrate 100.

Therefore, except that the column spacer 250, the dummy column spacer 260, and the dotted dummy column spacer 270 are formed on the overcoat layer 240, except for the same as those of the liquid crystal display of FIG. 7A. Do.

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of a liquid crystal display device according to still another embodiment. In the aforementioned liquid crystal display device of FIG. 7B, the overcoat layer 240 is formed on the light shielding film 210 and is patterned so as not to be formed on the seal material 300. . Other than that is the same as the liquid crystal display element shown in FIG.

Fourth embodiment

8 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the fourth embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having a dummy column spacer 260 having a plurality of openings 262 formed in a corner portion of a substrate.

The opening 262 may be formed in at least one corner region, and a plurality of openings 262 may be formed continuously or discontinuously.

Other than that is the same as that of 3rd Embodiment mentioned above.

Fifth Embodiment

9 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the dotted dummy column spacer 270 is not an inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer 260, but an outer side of the dummy column spacer 260. It is formed in the dummy area.

Others are the same as the above-described third embodiment, and it will be easily understood with reference to FIGS. 10A to 10C which are cross-sectional views according to various embodiments of the I-I line of FIG. 9.

Sixth embodiment

11 is a plan view of a liquid crystal display device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 11, the sixth embodiment of the present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device having a dummy column spacer 260 having a plurality of openings 262 formed in a corner portion of a substrate.

The opening 262 may be formed in at least one corner region, and a plurality of openings 262 may be formed continuously or discontinuously.

Other than that is the same as that of 5th Embodiment mentioned above.

Seventh embodiment

12A and 12B are plan views of a liquid crystal display device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. A seventh embodiment of the present invention is a second dummy area in the inner dummy area or the outer dummy area of the first dummy column spacer 260. The dummy column spacer 280 is formed.

That is, by forming a dummy column spacer in a double to more smoothly control the flow of the liquid crystal.

In this case, the first dummy column spacer 260 and / or the second dummy column spacer 280 may have a plurality of openings 262 formed continuously or discontinuously in at least one corner region. The opening 262 may not be formed.

The first dummy column spacer 260 and the second dummy column spacer 280 may be variously modified in the same manner as the above-described formation of the dummy column spacer 260 and the dotted dummy column spacer 270. .

Eighth Embodiment

13A to 13D are perspective views illustrating a manufacturing process of a liquid crystal display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although only one unit cell is illustrated in the drawing, a plurality of unit cells may be formed.

First, as shown in FIG. 13A, the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate 200 are prepared. Although not shown in the drawing, a plurality of gate wirings and data wirings are formed on the lower substrate 100 to cross each other in a vertical direction, and a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a semiconductor layer, A thin film transistor including an ohmic contact layer, a source / drain electrode, and a passivation layer is formed, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor is formed in the pixel area.

In addition, an alignment layer for initial alignment of liquid crystal is formed on the pixel electrode. In this case, the alignment layer may be formed by rubbing alignment treatment of a polyamide or polyimide compound, PVA (polyvinylalcohol), polyamic acid, or the like, or PVCN (polyvinylcinnamate) or PSCN (polyvinylcinnamate). Photoreactive materials such as polysiloxanecinnamate) or CelCN (cellulosecinnamate) -based compounds may be formed by photoalignment treatment.

In addition, a light shielding film is formed on the upper substrate 200 to block light leakage from the gate wiring, the data wiring, and the thin film transistor forming region, and a red, green, and blue color filter layer is formed on the light blocking film. A common electrode is formed on the color filter layer. In addition, an overcoat layer may be further formed between the color filter layer and the common electrode.

In the outer portion of the lower substrate 100, silver (Ag) is formed in a dot shape to apply voltage to the common electrode on the upper substrate 200 after the two substrates 100 and 200 are bonded together. Do it. The silver Ag may be formed on the upper substrate 200.

However, in the case of an IPS (In Plane Switching) mode liquid crystal display device, the common electrode is formed on the same lower substrate 100 as the pixel electrode to induce the transverse electric field, and the silver (Ag) dot is not formed.

In addition, as can be seen in the first to seventh embodiments described above, the column spacer, the dummy column spacer, the dotted dummy column spacer, and the second dummy column spacer are formed on the upper substrate 200 in various positions. do. At this time, the column spacer and the dummy column spacer, or the column spacer, the dummy column spacer and the dotted dummy column spacer, or the column spacer, the dummy column spacer and the second dummy column spacer using the photosensitive organic resin at the same height, In other words, it is formed at the height of the cell gap.

The alignment film described above is formed on the upper substrate 200.

And, as shown in Figure 13b, on the upper substrate 200, a UV-curable seal material 300 is applied.

Seal material coating methods include screen printing method and dispenser method, but screen printing method may damage the alignment film formed on the substrate because the screen is in contact with the substrate, and the substrate is large in area. In this case, the amount of loss of seal material is uneconomical, so the dispenser method is preferable.

As the UV-curable seal material 300, a monomer or oligomer having an acryl group bonded to both ends thereof is mixed with an initiator, or a monomer or oligomer having an acryl group bonded to the other end thereof with an epoxy group is mixed with an initiator. It is desirable to.

In addition, the liquid crystal 500 is dropped on the lower substrate 100 to form a liquid crystal layer. At this time, the amount of the liquid crystal 500 drop is determined in consideration of the size of the substrate and the cell gap, it is preferable to drop the determined amount or more.

The liquid crystal 500 is contaminated when it encounters the seal member 300 before the UV-curable seal member 300 is cured. Therefore, the liquid crystal 500 is preferably dropped in the central portion of the lower substrate 100.

As such, the liquid crystal 500 dropped in the center portion is properly controlled by the dummy column spacer and the dotted dummy column spacer so that the liquid crystal 500 is distributed without being filled or overfilled in the UV-curable seal material 300.

13B illustrates a process of dropping the liquid crystal 500 on the lower substrate 100 and applying the UV-curable seal material 300 on the upper substrate 200, but is not limited thereto. The liquid crystal 500 may be dropped onto the lower substrate 100, and the UV-curable seal material 300 may be applied onto the lower substrate 100.

In addition, the liquid crystal 500 and the UV-curable seal material 300 may be formed on the same substrate. However, when the liquid crystal 500 and the UV-curable seal material 300 are formed on the same substrate, an imbalance occurs between the process of forming the liquid crystal and the UV-curable seal material and the substrate that is not. Since the liquid crystal and the seal material are formed on the same substrate, even if a contaminant is formed on the seal material before bonding, the substrate may not be cleaned.

Therefore, the substrate cleaning process may be further performed after the UV-curable seal material coating process.

13C, the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate 200 are bonded to each other.

In the bonding process, the lower substrate 100 on which the liquid crystal is dropped is fixed on the lower surface of the positive substrate, and the upper substrate 200 is rotated 180 degrees so that the layer forming surface faces the lower substrate 100. After the pressure is applied to both substrates by applying pressure to the upper substrate 200 located on the upper surface, or by forming a vacuum between the two substrates that are spaced apart, the vacuum is released to bond both substrates by atmospheric pressure. It may be.

And, as shown in Figure 13d, the bonded substrate is irradiated with UV through the UV irradiation device 600.

When irradiated with UV as described above, the lower substrate 100 and the upper substrate 200 are adhered to each other by polymerizing a monomer or oligomer activated by the initiator constituting the UV-curable seal material 300.

In this case, when the monomer or oligomer having an acrylic group bonded to an acrylic group at one end of the UV-curable seal material 300 is mixed with an initiator at the other end, the epoxy group does not react by such UV irradiation, so the UV After the irradiation step, a heating step is further performed to completely cure the seal material. The heating step is preferably performed for about 1 hour at about 120 ℃.

On the other hand, when UV is irradiated to the entire surface of the bonded substrate during the UV irradiation process, adversely affects device characteristics such as thin film transistors formed on the substrate, and the pretilt angle of the alignment layer formed for the initial alignment of the liquid crystal is Can be changed.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, it is preferable to cover the pixel area inside the main UV-curable seal material 300 with the mask 700 and irradiate UV.

Although not shown, the bonded substrate is cut into unit cells.

The cell cutting process is a scribing device such as a diamond pen that is harder than glass, which is a substrate material, and forms a cutting line on the surface of the bonded substrate (scribing process), and then applies a mechanical impact along the cutting line with a brake device. Break process A plurality of unit cells can be obtained simultaneously.

In addition, the unit cell may be obtained one by one by performing the scribe and brake processes using a diamond pen or wheel.

However, it is advantageous to use cutting equipment that performs a scribe / brake simultaneous process in terms of space and cutting process time that the equipment takes up.

Then, the final inspection process is performed after the cutting process.

The final inspection process is a process of confirming whether the substrate cut in the cell unit is defective before assembling into the liquid crystal module. The final inspection process checks whether each pixel is correctly driven when voltage is applied or not.

As mentioned above, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be modified within the scope obvious to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, by forming a dummy column spacer having an opening and a dotted dummy column spacer in the dummy region, the flow of the liquid crystal is smoothly controlled to prevent the occurrence of unfilled or overfilled regions of the liquid crystal. Therefore, a uniform cell gap is maintained and image characteristics are improved.

In addition, since the dummy column spacer and the dotted dummy column spacer serve as a dam, there is no fear that the liquid crystal may meet and be contaminated before the UV-curable seal material is cured.

Claims (20)

A lower substrate and an upper substrate; A column spacer formed in the pixel region between the both substrates; A dummy column spacer for liquid crystal flow control formed in a dummy region between the substrates and having an opening formed in at least one corner region; A UV curable seal material formed on an outer portion of the dummy column spacer between the substrates; And And a liquid crystal layer formed between the substrates. According to claim 1, And a plurality of openings are formed successively. According to claim 1, And a plurality of the openings are discontinuously formed. The method of claim 1, And a dashed-line dummy column spacer for assisting liquid crystal flow control in an inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer. The method of claim 1, And a dotted line dummy column spacer further configured to assist liquid crystal flow control in an outer dummy region of the dummy column spacer. The method of claim 1, The dummy column spacer is formed in a double liquid crystal display device. A lower substrate and an upper substrate; Gate and data lines formed to cross each other to define a pixel area on the lower substrate; A thin film transistor formed at an area where the gate wiring and the data wiring cross each other; A pixel electrode formed in the pixel region; A light blocking film formed on the upper substrate; A color filter layer formed on the light shielding film; A third layer formed on the color filter layer; A column spacer formed on an area corresponding to the area where the gate line and the data line are formed on the third layer; A dummy column spacer for liquid crystal flow control formed in a dummy region other than the pixel region on the third layer and having an opening formed in at least one corner region; A UV curable seal material formed on an outer portion of the dummy column spacer between the substrates; And And a liquid crystal layer formed between the substrates. The method of claim 7, wherein And the third layer is a common electrode. The method of claim 7, wherein And the third layer is an overcoat layer. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, And a dotted line dummy column spacer further configured to control liquid crystal flow on the third layer in an inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, And a dotted line dummy column spacer further configured to assist liquid crystal flow control on the third layer in an outer dummy region of the dummy column spacer. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, The dummy column spacer is formed in a double liquid crystal display device. Preparing a lower substrate and an upper substrate; Forming a column spacer in the pixel region on the upper substrate and forming a dummy column spacer for liquid crystal flow control in the dummy region; Applying a UV-curable seal material to an outer portion of the dummy column spacer; Dropping liquid crystal onto the lower substrate; Bonding the substrates together; And Method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device comprising the step of irradiating UV to the bonded substrate. The method of claim 13, And the column spacer and the dummy column spacer are formed at the same time. The method of claim 13, And forming a dotted line dummy column spacer in an inner dummy region of the dummy column spacer when the dummy column spacer is formed. The method of claim 13, And forming a dotted line dummy column spacer in an outer dummy region of the dummy column spacer when the dummy column spacer is formed. The method of claim 13, And forming the dummy column spacer in duplicate. The method of claim 13, The UV irradiation process is performed by covering the pixel area inside the UV-curable seal material with a mask. The method of claim 13, And a heating step after the UV irradiation step. The method of claim 13, And a cleaning step after the UV curing seal material coating step.