KR20040062204A - substrate for liquid crystal display including inkjet spacer and fabrication method the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A substrate including ink-jet spacers for a liquid crystal display device, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided to easily form spacers in a desired height by controlling a spread width of ink, thereby obtaining the reliability of cell gap maintenance of a liquid crystal panel, and improving the quality characteristic of a liquid crystal display device. CONSTITUTION: Black matrices(136) are formed on a substrate(130), including protrusion parts protruded defining a predetermined entrance. A common electrode(138) is formed on the black matrices, including a planarization plane and an ink wall(190) formed in association with a shape of protrusion parts. A plurality of ink-jet spacers(160) are dropped into the ink wall and then solidified.

Description

Substrate for liquid crystal display including inkjet spacer and fabrication method the same}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel for a liquid crystal display device (LCD), and more particularly, to first and second substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, and a cell therebetween. The present invention relates to a liquid crystal panel including an inkjet spacer for maintaining a cell gap.

The liquid crystal panel is an essential component of the liquid crystal display, and includes first and second substrates facing each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween.

Liquid crystal molecules are thin and long in structure, and have optical anisotropy and polarization. Accordingly, field generating electrodes are formed on opposite surfaces of both substrates constituting the liquid crystal panel, and the arrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules may be artificially adjusted through the voltage difference therebetween.

In this case, various images are displayed by changing the transmittance of light.

In a typical liquid crystal panel, a plurality of pixels are formed as a basic unit of image expression. Currently, an active matrix method that independently controls each pixel using a switching element is widely used. At this time, a thin film transistor (TFT-LCD) is a well-known thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element.

Hereinafter, a general active matrix liquid crystal panel will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a general liquid crystal panel, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cross section taken along a line II-II of FIG. 1.

The general liquid crystal panel 5 includes a first substrate 10 and a second substrate 30 facing each other with the liquid crystal layer 50 interposed therebetween.

The first substrate 10 is a transparent first insulating substrate 12 such as glass, and a plurality of gate lines and data lines 14 arranged vertically and horizontally on one surface thereof to define the pixels P in a matrix form. 16, a thin film transistor T formed at an intersection thereof, and a pixel electrode 18 corresponding to each pixel P in a state of being connected to each of the thin film transistors T.

The thin film transistor T includes a gate electrode 14a branched from the gate line 14, a source electrode 16a branched from the data line 16, and a drain electrode 20 connected to the pixel electrode 18. And an active channel layer 22, which is a carrier movement path such as an electron or a hole.

In addition, reference numeral 23 denotes a gate insulating layer formed on the entire surface of the substrate therebetween for insulating the gate line 14 and the data line 16, and 26 denotes the thin film transistor T to protect the thin film transistor T. A protective film formed on the entire surface of the substrate is indicated above.

The second substrate 30 includes a second insulating substrate 32, a color filter layer 34 and a black matrix 36 sequentially formed on one surface thereof, and a common electrode 38.

The color filter layer 34 is composed of repetition of red, green, and blue color filters 34a, 34b, and 34c arranged to reflect light of a specific wavelength band in a state corresponding to each pixel P of the array substrate 10. .

The black matrix 36 covers non-pixel regions such as the gate line 14, the data line 16, and the thin film transistor T of the first substrate 10, so that the black matrix 36 may be provided to the actual user according to the arrangement change of the liquid crystal molecules. The pixel region in which the image to be displayed is displayed, in particular, a portion corresponding to the pixel electrode 18 is exposed.

The common electrode 38 is made of a transparent conductive metal such as indium tin oxide or indium zinc oxide.

In this case, although not shown in a separate drawing, the positions of the black matrix 34 and the color filter layer 36 may be changed. A seal pattern is formed at the edges of both substrates 10 and 30 to maintain a cell gap for liquid crystal injection and to prevent adhesion of the substrates 10 and 30 and leakage of liquid crystal. At the boundary between (10, 30) and the liquid crystal layer 50, first and second alignment films for determining the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystal are interposed.

On the other hand, for reliable image representation, the gap between the first and second substrates 10 and 30, that is, the cell gap defined by the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 50, must be kept constant. a spacer is formed.

As a general spacer, a ball spacer that randomly distributes a spherical resin material between both substrates has been used.

While this requires a relatively simple process, the position cannot be fixed accurately, and thus light leakage may occur due to adsorption force with surrounding liquid crystal molecules.

In addition, there is a possibility of movement, which may cause scratches and the like on the alignment layer, and the density distribution is not constant, so when applied to a large area liquid crystal panel, reliability of the cell gap is low. For the same reason, if you touch the screen, you may see ripples that remain for a while.

Because of this drawback, a patterned spacer or inkjet spacer 60 (hereinafter simply referred to as inkjet spacer 60), which can be formed to be fixed at a desired position, is developed. It has been.

Since the patterned spacers and the ink jet spacers 60 can be limited to their non-display areas, they can prevent light leakage even when adsorptive force with surrounding liquid crystal molecules occurs, and precisely control the density. Reliability is maintained in cell gap maintenance and ripple is prevented.

However, the patterned spacer requires a photolithography process including coating, exposure, development, and etching of organic materials, which requires a lot of time and cost, and defects in other devices due to the above-described physical and chemical processes. It is easy to give.

On the other hand, the inkjet spacer 60 may be completed by a relatively simple process of dropping a liquid organic material (hereinafter, simply referred to as ink) in a non-pixel region and curing with heat or ultraviolet rays. have.

However, this inkjet spacer 60 also has some problems. Since the ink must have a viscosity of about a certain amount for dropping, it is used in a sol state close to a liquid dissolved in a suitable solvent. Therefore, the wide spread width (W) is very difficult to exactly match the desired height.

In addition, it is often observed that the ink dropped into the non-pixel region spreads to the pixel region, which in turn hinders the image quality of the liquid crystal display device, which hinders the utilization of the inkjet spacer.

The present invention is to achieve the above object, in forming an inkjet spacer, to provide a liquid crystal panel and a method of manufacturing the same that can prevent the spread of the ink, and can easily achieve the desired height have.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a general liquid crystal panel

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cut plane along the line II-II of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal panel according to the present invention;

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG.

5A to 5E are cross-sectional views illustrating cut planes along the V-V line of FIG. 3 in the order of the processes, respectively.

6A to 6B are cross-sectional views showing cross sections of the protrusions, respectively.

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

110: first substrate 112: first insulating substrate

114a: gate electrode 116: data line

116a: source electrode 120: drain electrode

122: active channel layer 124: gate insulating film

126: protective film 130: second substrate

132: second insulating substrate 134c: blue color filter

136: black matrix 138: common electrode

160: Ink 190: Ink Wall

The present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a substrate; A black matrix formed on the substrate and defining a predetermined inlet and including a protruding protrusion; A common electrode formed on the black matrix and including a flat surface and an ink wall formed along a shape of the protrusion; Provided is a substrate for a liquid crystal display device including an ink jet spacer dipped into the ink wall and solidified. In addition, the protrusion is characterized in that the cylindrical shape. In addition, the material of the black matrix is characterized in that the resin. In addition, the inkjet spacer is characterized in that the black resin series. In addition, the height of the inkjet spacer is characterized in that 2 to 10 ㎛ from the flat surface of the common electrode. In addition, it characterized in that it further comprises a color filter layer formed between the substrate and the black matrix.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises the steps of forming a black matrix on the transparent insulating substrate and defining a predetermined inlet and including a protruding protrusion; Forming a common electrode on the black matrix, the common electrode including a flat surface and an ink wall formed along the shape of the protrusion; Dropping ink into the ink wall; It provides a substrate manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device comprising the step of curing the drop ink. In this case, the forming of the black matrix may include applying a black photosensitive organic layer on the substrate; The method may further include exposing the mask on which the predetermined pattern is formed on the photosensitive organic layer, and then exposing the photosensitive organic layer by irradiating light from the upper portion of the mask. In addition, the mask, the blocking portion for blocking the light; A transmission unit for transmitting light; It characterized in that it comprises a semi-transmissive portion that passes the light of higher concentration than the blocking portion, and passes the light of a lower concentration than the transmission portion. The method may further include forming a color filter layer on the substrate before forming the black matrix on the substrate. In addition, the height of the inkjet spacer is characterized in that 2 to 10 ㎛ from the flat surface of the common electrode. In addition, the protrusion is characterized in that the cylindrical shape, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the liquid crystal panel 105 according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

The liquid crystal panel 105 including the inkjet spacer according to the present invention includes a first substrate 110 and a second substrate 130 facing each other with the liquid crystal layer 150 therebetween.

The first substrate 110 includes a transparent first insulating substrate 112, such as glass, and a plurality of gate lines 114 arranged horizontally on one surface of the first insulating substrate 112 so as to define the pixel P in a matrix shape. And a data line 116 and a pixel electrode 118 corresponding to each pixel P.

The gate electrode 114a branched from the gate line 114, the source electrode 116a branched from the data line 116, the drain electrode 120 connected to the pixel electrode 118, and a carrier of charge or hole An active channel layer 122 of a semiconductor material, which is a movement path, includes a plurality of thin film transistors T formed at intersections of the gate line 114 and the data line 116, respectively.

In this case, reference numeral 124 denotes a gate insulating film formed on the entire surface of the substrate between the gate line 114 and the data line 116, and 126 denotes the thin film transistor T to protect the thin film transistor T. A protective film formed on the entire surface of the substrate is shown above.

The second substrate 130 includes a second insulating substrate 132, a color filter layer 134 and a black matrix 136 sequentially formed on one surface thereof, and a common electrode 138.

In this case, the color filter layer 134 may be red, green, blue, or similar red (R), green (G), or blue (B) color that is repeatedly arranged to correspond to each pixel P of the first substrate 110. Filters 134a, 134b, 134c. The black matrix 136 covers non-pixel regions such as the gate line 114, the data line 116, and the thin film transistor T to pass through a reverse tilt domain formed around the pixel electrode 118. The light is shielded and a portion corresponding to the pixel electrode 118 is exposed.

The common electrode 138 is made of a transparent conductive metal such as indium tin oxide or indium zinc oxide.

Although not shown, a seal pattern is formed at the edges of the two substrates 110 and 130 to maintain cell gap for liquid crystal injection, and to prevent adhesion between the two substrates and liquid crystal leakage. The first and second alignment layers, which determine the initial alignment direction of the liquid crystals, are interposed at the boundary of the layer 150, which may be similar to a general liquid crystal panel.

In this case, the liquid crystal panel 105 according to the present invention maintains a constant cell gap through a plurality of inkjet spacers 160 formed between both substrates 110 and 130. In particular, the inkjet spacers have a common electrode 138 of the second substrate. It is preferably formed on the), characterized in that it comprises an ink wall 190 of the mold (鑄型) that can prevent the spreading of the ink dropping. In addition, the ink wall 190 is characterized in that the black matrix 136 and the common electrode 138.

That is, the liquid crystal panel 105 according to the present invention configures the inkjet spacer 160 by dropping ink on the second substrate 130 including the color filter 134. In particular, the liquid crystal panel 105 prevents spreading at the dropping point of the ink. An ink wall 190 formed of a black matrix 136 and a common electrode 138 is formed.

The ink wall 190 has a space for accommodating ink therein, and the ink is hardened by the ink. Herein, FIGS. 5A to 5E are attached to the inkjet spacer 160 forming position of FIG. That is, it is a process cross section which shows the cross section cut along the VI-VI line according to the manufacturing process sequence.

Referring to these, the manufacturing process of the second substrate 130 including the inkjet spacer 160 and the ink wall 190 according to the present invention will be described in more detail.

First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the color filter layer 134 is formed on the second insulating substrate 132. There may be a number of methods for this purpose, including, for example, a photopolymerization initiator, a monomer, a photopolymerizable photosensitive composition such as a binder, and an organic pigment of red, green, blue or similar color. It demonstrates by the method using a color resin.

First, a color resin of red or similar color is applied to the entire surface of the second insulating substrate 132 in any order, and then the selected area is exposed, and then green or similar color resin is applied and then selectively exposed. Color filter layer 134 composed of a repeating arrangement of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters 134a, 134b, and 134c by applying a color filter resin of blue or similar color and then selectively exposing them. ) Can be formed.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, a black organic photosensitive material is coated on the substrate on which the color filter layer 134 is formed to form a black organic layer 136a. The black organic film 136a may be classified into a positive type in which light-received portions are removed or a negative type in which non-light-received portions are removed when developed after exposure. Explain the case.

The black organic layer 136a has a transmission portion A blocking light on the substrate on which the light is formed, a blocking portion C blocking the light, and light having a lower density than the transmission portion A. A mask 170 including a transflective portion B that transmits light having a higher concentration than C) is matched.

When the light is irradiated and developed from the upper portion of the mask 170, the portion of the black organic film 136a corresponding to the transmissive portion A is exposed to high concentration of light and completely removed, and the black organic portion corresponding to the semi-transmissive portion B is removed. The portion of the film 136a is exposed to light having a lower concentration and remains at a predetermined thickness, and the portion of the black organic film 136a corresponding to the blocking portion C is not exposed, and thus remains almost.

As a result, a black matrix 136 is formed as shown in FIG. 5C, and the black matrix 136 has a protruding portion 136b in which a part corresponding to the blocking portion C of the mask 170 is protruded. Is formed.

It may preferably have a height of about 1.5 μm, and is provided with a hole 136c for accommodating the ink described later.

At this time, the shape of the protrusion 136b and the hole 136c formed therein may be free. 6A to 6B are cross-sectional views of various shapes of the protrusion 136b and the hole 136c, and one hole 136c is formed in the cylindrical protrusion 136b (FIG. 6A). Alternatively, one hole 136c may be formed in the cylindrical protrusion 136b, and a protrusion end 136d branched into a pillar shape may be formed therein (FIG. 6B).

5D, the common electrode 138 is formed by depositing a transparent conductive metal such as indium-tin-oxide on the entire surface of the substrate on which the black matrix 136 including the protrusion 136b and the hole 136c is formed. . At this time, a portion of the common electrode 138 corresponding to the above-described protrusion (136b of FIG. 5C) and the hole (136c of FIG. 5C) of the black matrix 136 is also deposited along the shape thereof, and thus a certain amount of ink is internally provided. An ink wall 192 is formed which defines the receiving space 194 and is substantially vertically upright.

Subsequently, ink is dropped into the ink receiving space defined by each ink wall 192. Preferably, a curable black resin (resin: 160a) may be used, and the nozzle 200 may be used for dropping the ink. Can be used.

The curable black resin 160a is cured to form a solidified inkjet spacer 160 as shown in FIG. 5E. In this case, the height of the inkjet spacer 160 is preferably 2 to 10 μm from the flat surface of the common electrode 138.

At this time, the position where the inkjet spacer 160 is formed will naturally be a non-pixel area corresponding to the black matrix.

The present invention forms an ink wall for the inkjet spacer without any additional process, through which the spreading width of the ink can be controlled to easily form a spacer having a desired height.

As a result, the cell gap of the liquid crystal panel can be maintained in reliability, and the image quality characteristics of the liquid crystal display can be improved.

Claims (12)

A substrate; A black matrix formed on the substrate and defining a predetermined inlet and including a protruding protrusion; A common electrode formed on the black matrix and including a flat surface and an ink wall formed along a shape of the protrusion; Inkjet spacer dipped into the ink wall and solidified Liquid crystal display substrate comprising a The method according to claim 1, The projection portion is a substrate for a liquid crystal display device having a cylindrical shape The method according to claim 1, The material of the black matrix is a resin substrate The method according to claim 1, The inkjet spacer is a black resin based liquid crystal display substrate The method according to claim 1, The height of the inkjet spacer is 2 to 10 ㎛ substrate from the flat surface of the common electrode The method according to claim 1, A color filter layer formed between the substrate and the black matrix Liquid crystal display substrate further comprising Forming a black matrix on the transparent insulating substrate and defining a predetermined opening and including a protruding protrusion; Forming a common electrode on the black matrix, the common electrode including a flat surface and an ink wall formed along the shape of the protrusion; Dropping ink into the ink wall; Curing the loaded ink Substrate manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device comprising a The method according to claim 7, Forming the black matrix, Coating a black photosensitive organic film on the substrate; Opposing a mask having a predetermined pattern formed on the photosensitive organic layer, and then exposing the photosensitive organic layer by irradiating light from the upper part of the mask; Substrate manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device further comprising The method according to claim 8, The mask is, Blocking unit for blocking the light; A transmission unit for transmitting light; Semi-transmissive portion that passes light of higher concentration than the blocking portion and passes light of lower concentration than the transmissive portion Substrate manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device comprising a The method according to claim 7, Before forming the black matrix on the substrate, Forming a color filter layer on the substrate Substrate manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device further comprising The method according to claim 7, The height of the inkjet spacer is 2 to 10 ㎛ from the flat surface of the common electrode substrate manufacturing method for a liquid crystal display device The method according to claim 7, Method for manufacturing a substrate for a liquid crystal display device wherein the protrusion is cylindrical