KR20050073658A - Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display and a method of manufacturing the same. The liquid crystal display of the present invention is a first substrate and a second substrate having a matrix pixel region defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines facing each other, the gate line or data line of the first substrate. A tip-shaped structure formed on the upper side, and a post-shaped spacer positioned in a portion corresponding to the tip-shaped structure on the second substrate, when bonded, characterized in that the structure and the spacer is coupled. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid crystal to accumulate to the lower side by gravity, thereby preventing the failure.

Description

Liquid crystal display and its manufacturing method {LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME}

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

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices is increasing in various forms, and in recent years, various reputations such as LCD, Plasma Display Panel (PDP), Electro Luminescent Display (ELD), and VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) Display devices have been studied and some have already been used as display devices in various equipment.

Among them, LCD which replaces Cathode Ray Tube is the most widely used for mobile image display because of its excellent image quality and light weight, thinness and low power consumption. In addition, it is being developed in various ways such as a television monitor.

The LCD is composed of two substrates coupled to face each other and a liquid crystal material which is injected between the two substrates to generate a phase transition according to a change in temperature or a change in concentration.

The liquid crystal is a material having an intermediate property between the liquid and the solid having the fluidity of the liquid and the long range order of the solid. That is, it means that the solid crystal melts and becomes an intermediate state, not a solid crystal or a liquid, before it becomes a liquid. When the light is irradiated or an electric field or a magnetic field is added, it exhibits birefringence peculiar to optical anisotropic crystals, and within a certain temperature range. Both properties of liquid and crystal are shown.

When making such an LCD, an empty liquid crystal cell is formed by combining two substrates on which electrodes are formed, and then a liquid crystal material is injected between the two substrates through a liquid crystal injection hole.

If this is explained in more detail as follows.

In the liquid crystal cell process, a TFT substrate on which a thin film transistor (TFT) is formed and a color filter substrate opposite to the TFT substrate are bonded to each other through a seal material. A bonding process for curing one material is performed. Subsequently, a vacuum injection method is used in which the liquid crystal and the substrate bonded to each other are put in a vacuum chamber, the injection hole opened by the sealing material is immersed in the liquid crystal, and the liquid crystal is sealed between the substrates by restoring the chamber to atmospheric pressure.

1 is a view for explaining a liquid crystal cell process using a conventional vacuum injection method.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal material is contained in the container 30, and then the container is placed in the chamber 20 and the pressure in the chamber 20 is maintained in a vacuum state so as to be in the liquid crystal 25 material or the inner wall of the container. Remove the water stuck and deflate the bubbles.

Subsequently, when the liquid crystal inlets of the panels 40 are immersed in or contacted with the liquid crystal material, the pressure in the chamber is increased from the vacuum state to the nitrogen (N ₂ ) gas from the outside to the atmospheric pressure state. The liquid crystal material is injected through the liquid crystal inlet by the difference between the pressure in the chamber and the pressure in the chamber.

 Next, when the liquid crystal 25 is completely filled in each panel 40, after performing an encapsulation process of sealing the injection hole, each panel 40 is cleaned.

However, since the liquid crystal injection method injects the liquid crystal by cutting the unit panel and then dipping or contacting the liquid crystal inlet to the liquid crystal material while maintaining the vacuum state between the two substrates, the liquid crystal injection takes a lot of time, thus improving productivity. Degrades. In addition, when manufacturing a large-area LCD, the liquid crystal is not completely injected into the panel may cause a failure.

On the other hand, recently, a predetermined amount of liquid crystal is dropped on the substrate surface in the frame of the main sealing formed on the frame around the array substrate, and the array substrate and the color filter substrate are bonded together in a vacuum. The drop injection method which carries out liquid crystal encapsulation is attracting attention.

The liquid crystal cell process using the drop injection method is briefly described as follows.

As shown in FIG. 2, after the alignment material is coated on the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate, the alignment process 1S is performed to ensure that the liquid crystal molecules have uniform directionality, and the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are respectively cleaned ( 2S).

The cleaned color filter substrate is loaded into a seal dispensing apparatus to apply a seal material to the periphery of each panel region (3S). The seal material uses a light and thermosetting resin and does not need to make a liquid crystal inlet. The seal material may be applied onto a TFT substrate.

Meanwhile, the cleaned TFT substrate is loaded into a silver dispensing apparatus to form silver dots in a common voltage supply line on the TFT substrate (5S), and the TFT substrate is formed by liquid crystal dispensing ( LC Dispensing) loads the liquid crystal onto the active array area of each panel (6S).

Then, the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are loaded into a vacuum adapter chamber to bond and press the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate so that the dropped liquid crystal is uniformly filled in each panel to fill the liquid crystal, and the seal material is It hardens and a liquid crystal original plate is formed (7S).

The liquid crystal original plate is cut for each panel (8S).

Each cut panel is polished and finally inspected (9S) to complete the LCD.

However, the conventional LCD manufacturing method as described above has the following problems.

Gravity defects (defects due to different expansion rate due to high temperature of the spacer and liquid crystal) due to the pressure difference between the substrate and the substrate forming the LCD are suppressed by the process of pressurization and encapsulation in the conventional vacuum injection method. In the present invention, although the amount of liquid crystal dropped is controlled by suppression, it is difficult to control this.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an LCD and a method of manufacturing the same, which are devised to solve the conventional problems as described above, which can prevent the problem of gravity failure through a simple structure.

The LCD of the present invention for achieving the above object, in the first substrate and the second substrate to have a matrix pixel region defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines facing each other, the gate of the first substrate A tip-shaped structure formed on an upper portion of a line or data line, and a strut-shaped spacer positioned on a portion corresponding to the tip-shaped structure on the second substrate, wherein the structure and the spacer are coupled to each other when bonded. It is done.

In addition, the manufacturing method of the LCD of the present invention, providing a first substrate; Forming a gate line on the first substrate; Forming an insulating film on the gate line; Forming a TFT by forming a data line on the insulating film; Forming a protective film on the TFT; And forming a tip-shaped structure on an upper portion of the passivation layer corresponding to the gate line.

In the second substrate facing the first substrate, a spacer having a shape of a post is formed in a portion corresponding to the gate line so that the structure is connected to the spacer during the bonding process of the first substrate and the second substrate. To secure the spacer.

In this case, the structure is less thermal expansion than the spacer, it is preferable that the structure is a high hardness, the structure may be formed using a half tone mask.

In addition, the LCD manufacturing method according to another embodiment of the present invention, providing a first substrate; Forming a gate line on the first substrate; Forming an insulating film on the gate line; Forming a data line on the insulating film to form a TFT and simultaneously forming a predetermined structure on the gate line; And forming a pixel electrode in electrical contact with the TFT.

(Example)

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

3 is a cross-sectional view of a predetermined cross section of a TFT substrate for explaining a method of manufacturing an LCD of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a first substrate (TFT substrate) and a second substrate (Color Filter substrate) facing each other are provided.

The first substrate 1 includes a plurality of gate lines 2 arranged in one direction at regular intervals and a plurality of data lines arranged at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the gate lines although not shown in the drawing. A plurality of thin film transistors and pixel electrodes respectively formed in a matrix pixel area defined by the gate line and the data line are formed.

An insulating film 3 is interposed between the gate line 2 and the data line, and a protective film 4 for protecting the pixel electrodes is formed.

The second substrate 5 has a black matrix layer 6 for blocking light in portions other than the pixel region, and a color consisting of three primary colors of red, green, and blue. A filter layer 7, an overcoat layer 8 covering the color filter layer 7, and a common electrode (not shown) for driving the liquid crystal are formed together with the pixel electrodes. In addition, on the second substrate 5, a spacer 9 having a post shape, which is advantageous for the large area of the LCD, has a height of about 3.5 占 퐉 on the surface corresponding to the gate line 2 on the first substrate 1. Formed. The spacer 9 may be formed on a surface corresponding to the data line.

Such a post-shaped spacer 9 is a structure capable of preventing the disadvantage of the conventional ball spacer, that is, the problem of increasing the occurrence rate of light leakage defects due to the orientation problem around the spacer in the wide viewing angle mode that implements normally dark. After the film is formed by spin coating or the like using a negative resist photosensitive resin, a post-shaped pattern is formed using a mask.

In addition, a predetermined tip structure 10 is formed on a portion corresponding to the gate line 2 on the passivation layer 4 of the first substrate 1, so that the bonding process is a cell process. The tip structure 10 and the post-shaped spacer 9 are coupled. In this case, the structure 10 is less thermal expansion than the spacer 9, it is preferable that the structure is a high hardness, the structure may be formed using a half tone mask to vary the shape of the tip. In addition, the structure 10 may be formed in various ways within the range not exceeding the width of the gate line.

The strut-shaped spacer 9 has a lower elastic force (resilience) than a conventional ball spacer, and has no adhesive property, but is a strut-shaped spacer by the tip structure 10 at a portion in contact with the strut-shaped spacer 9. Is pressed to have an adhesive force between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 5.

According to the present invention, after the bonding process in the cell process of the conventional liquid crystal dropping process, the volume of the strut-shaped spacer is reduced while high temperature and pressure are applied to sealant curing and gap retention, thereby firmly supporting the tip structure. Therefore, even when the liquid crystal panel to which the tip structure according to the present invention is applied is placed vertically, the holding spacer and the tip structure are firmly supported so that the liquid crystal can be sufficiently prevented from moving downward due to gravity. do.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, when forming a pattern of the thin film transistor to shorten the process, a tip structure may be formed on the upper side of the gate line using the same mask at the same time as the data line formation.

4 is a view illustrating a comparison with a conventional liquid crystal panel having a post-shaped spacer and a liquid crystal panel having a tip structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram showing.

That is, as shown in (a), in the case of using a conventional post-shaped spacer, when the substrate is vertically placed and then elapsed for a long time, the gravity defect A, which is a phenomenon in which the liquid crystal accumulates downward, appears.

However, as shown in (b), even when the substrate is vertically placed and the elapsed time elapses in the state in which the post-shaped spacer and the tip structure are combined, the post-shaped spacer and the tip structure are firmly supported and thus insufficient It will be possible to solve the problem.

The present invention described above is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, and it is common in the art that various substitutions, modifications, and changes can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. It will be evident to those who have knowledge of.

As mentioned above, this invention has the following effects.

First, in the present invention, a spacer having a pillar shape is pressed by the tip structure to a portion in contact with the spacer having a pillar shape, thereby improving adhesion between the first substrate and the second substrate facing each other.

In addition, in the present invention, even when the liquid crystal panel is placed vertically by combining the strut-shaped spacer and the tip structure, since the strut-shaped spacer and the tip structure are firmly supported, the liquid crystal is trying to accumulate downward by gravity. The movement can be sufficiently prevented, and the conventional gravity failure problem can be solved.

1 is a perspective view for explaining a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device applying a conventional vacuum injection method.

2 is a manufacturing process diagram for explaining a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device to which a conventional drop injection method is applied.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view cut a certain section of the TFT substrate to explain the manufacturing method of the LCD of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a comparison between the liquid crystal panel having a conventional post-shaped spacer and the liquid crystal panel having a tip structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

1: first substrate 2: gate line

3: insulating film 4: protective film

5: second substrate 6: black matrix

7: color filter layer 8: overcoat layer

9 spacer 10 structure

Claims (9)

A first substrate and a second substrate having a matrix pixel region defined by a plurality of gate lines and data lines facing each other, A tip-shaped structure formed over the gate line or the data line of the first substrate; A post-shaped spacer disposed on a portion of the second substrate corresponding to the tip-shaped structure, And, when bonded, the structure and the spacer are coupled to each other. The method of claim 1, The structure is a liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the thermal expansion coefficient less than the spacer, the structure is high hardness. Providing a first substrate; Forming a gate line on the first substrate; Forming an insulating film on the gate line; Forming a TFT by forming a data line on the insulating film; Forming a protective film on the TFT; And And forming a tip-shaped structure on an upper portion of the passivation layer corresponding to the gate line. The method of claim 3, wherein The structure is coupled to the spacer during the bonding process of the first substrate and the second substrate by having a spacer having a post shape on a portion corresponding to the gate line on a second substrate facing the first substrate. Method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device characterized in that. The method of claim 4, wherein And wherein the structure is a structure having a lower thermal expansion coefficient and a higher hardness than the spacer. The method of claim 3, wherein The structure is a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, characterized in that formed using a half tone mask. Providing a first substrate; Forming a gate line on the first substrate; Forming an insulating film on the gate line; Forming a data line on the insulating film to form a TFT and simultaneously forming a predetermined structure on the gate line; And And forming a pixel electrode in electrical contact with the TFT. The method of claim 7, wherein The structure is coupled to the spacer during the bonding process of the first substrate and the second substrate by having a spacer having a post shape on a portion corresponding to the gate line on a second substrate facing the first substrate. Method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device characterized in that. The method of claim 8, And wherein the structure is a structure having a lower thermal expansion coefficient and a higher hardness than the spacer.