KR20060070873A - Lcd and method of fabricating of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device having a durability against sound pressure and positive pressure and a manufacturing method thereof.

The liquid crystal display according to the present invention comprises a column spacer having columnar spacers configured to maintain a gap of the liquid crystal panel, and one end of the spacer is rounded and the other substrate corresponding to the spacer. The surface of is formed in a concave shape, in the step of bonding the substrate, characterized in that the rounded portion of the spacer is a shape that is fitted to the concave portion.

When the liquid crystal panel is manufactured in such a configuration, the liquid crystal panel can flexibly cope with the negative pressure applied from the outside or the positive pressure generated inside the liquid crystal panel, thereby preventing the gap.

Description

LCD and its manufacturing method {LCD and method of fabricating of the same}             

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a general liquid crystal display device;

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device including a column spacer according to the related art.

3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a liquid crystal display device including a column spacer according to the present invention;

4A to 4C are cross-sectional views illustrating a column spacer forming process according to the present invention in a process sequence;

5A to 5E are cross-sectional views illustrating a manufacturing process of an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention, in order of process.

<Brief description of the main parts of the drawing>

100, 200: transparent insulating substrate 102: gate electrode

104: gate insulating film 106a, b: semiconductor layer

108: source electrode 110: drain electrode

112: data wiring 114: protective film                 

118: pixel electrode 120: transparent organic film layer

202: light blocking means 204a, b, c: color filter

208: common electrode 214: column spacer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device including a column spacer configured to flexibly cope with negative or positive pressure applied from the outside or the inside, and a manufacturing method thereof.

In general, a liquid crystal display device is a display device that displays an image by using optical anisotropy and birefringence characteristics of a liquid crystal filled between two bonded substrates.

Hereinafter, a general configuration of a liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a view schematically showing a liquid crystal display according to the related art.

As shown in the drawing, a general color liquid crystal display 11 includes a color filter 7 including a black matrix 6 formed between a sub color filter 8 and each sub color filter 8, and the color filter ( The color filter substrate 5 having the common electrode 18 deposited thereon and the pixel region P are defined, and the pixel electrode 17 and the switching element T are formed in the pixel region. The array substrate 22 in which array wiring is formed around (P) and the liquid crystal 14 filled between the color filter substrate 5 and the array substrate 22 are included.                         

In the array substrate 22, a thin film transistor T, which is a switching element, is formed in a matrix type, and a gate line 13 and a data line 15 passing through the plurality of thin film transistors T cross each other. It is composed.

In this case, the pixel area P is an area defined by the gate line 13 and the data line 15 crossing each other, and a transparent pixel electrode 17 is formed on the pixel area P as described above.

The pixel electrode 17 uses a transparent conductive metal having a relatively high transmittance of light, such as indium tin oxide (ITO).

The liquid crystal panel is completed by bonding the color filter substrate 5 and the array substrate 22 configured as described above with the liquid crystal layer 14 interposed therebetween, and the liquid crystal layer is formed of the color filter substrate 5. An alignment film (not shown) which is located between the array substrates 22 and whose surface is rubbed is initially arranged.

In the above-described configuration, when a voltage is applied between the pixel electrode 17 and the common electrode 18, an electric field is generated in the longitudinal direction, and the liquid crystal molecules 14 are moved by the electric field, thereby changing the electric field. The image can be expressed by the light transmittance.

Although not shown in the above-described configuration, a spacer is formed between the array substrate 22 and the color filter substrate 5 to maintain a gap between the two substrates.

This will be described below with reference to FIG. 2.                         

2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display according to the related art.

As illustrated, the first substrate 22 is defined as a pixel area P including a switching area S and a storage area (not shown).

The switching region S includes a thin film transistor T including a gate electrode 32, an active layer 34, a source electrode 36, and a drain electrode 38, and a transparent pixel in the pixel region P. The electrode 17 is configured.

One surface of the second substrate 5 spaced apart from the first substrate 22 and the liquid crystal layer (not shown) may correspond to the thin film transistor T, the gate wiring, and the data wiring 13 and 15. The black matrix 6 is formed, and the color filters 7a, 7b, and 7c are formed on the surface corresponding to the pixel region P. As shown in FIG.

A transparent common electrode 18 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 22 including the color filters 7a, 7b, and 7c and the black matrix 6.

A columnar column spacer 20 is formed under the black matrix and the color filter 6 (7a, 7b, 7c).

The column spacer 20 supports a role of supporting the upper and lower plates, and is generally able to act as a resistance only to external pressure.

This type is the same for both the column spacer 20 and a ball type spacer generally used.

Therefore, in the current configuration, it is difficult to cope with the positive pressure generated due to the expansion of the liquid crystal inside the liquid crystal panel.                         

In such a case, there is a problem that a gap defect such as unevenness occurs in the liquid crystal panel.

The present invention is to solve the above-described problem, one end of the spacer constituting the inside of the liquid crystal panel is configured in a round, the surface of the other substrate corresponding to the spacer is configured in a concave shape.

In this way, the rounded portion of the spacer is fitted into the concave portion in the process of joining the two substrates together.

The shape of the spacer is a structure that can flexibly cope with the negative pressure generated outside the liquid crystal panel or the positive pressure generated inside the liquid crystal panel, there is an advantage that can prevent the gap.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate in which a plurality of pixel areas including a switching area are defined; A switching element configured in the switching region of the first substrate; A pixel electrode configured in the pixel region; A transparent organic layer formed on the switching element and the pixel electrode and having a plurality of etching grooves corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; A second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; Light blocking means formed on one surface of the second substrate corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; A common electrode formed on the front surface of the second substrate including the light blocking means; A column spacer is formed under the light blocking means, and has one side fitted into an etch groove of the first substrate.

The color filter is further configured to correspond to the pixel area, and the column spacer has a columnar one side having a round shape.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display, comprising: preparing a first substrate and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; Defining a plurality of pixel areas including a switching area on one surface of the first substrate; Forming a switching element in the switching region of the first substrate; Forming a pixel electrode in the pixel region; Forming a transparent organic layer on the switching element and the pixel electrode, the plurality of etching grooves being formed corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; Forming blocking means on one surface of the second substrate corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; Forming a common electrode formed on an entire surface of the second substrate on which the light blocking means is formed; And forming a columnar column spacer formed at a lower portion of the light blocking means and configured to have one side fitted into an etching groove of the first substrate.

The forming of the column spacer may include forming a photosensitive layer on the entire surface of the second substrate, and placing a mask including a transmission part, a blocking part, and a diffraction part on the photosensitive layer; Irradiating light on the lower photosensitive layer from the top of the mask and then developing the photosensitive layer to form a columnar photosensitive layer having a different height between the center and the periphery; It characterized in that it comprises the step of applying heat so that the center of the photosensitive layer is deformed in a round shape.

The column spacer has one side of a columnar shape having a round shape, wherein the maximum diameter of the round shape is formed larger or smaller than the diameter of the lower column shape.

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

Example

3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a liquid crystal display device according to the present invention.

As shown, the liquid crystal display device (liquid crystal display panel, LCD) according to the present invention is configured by bonding the array substrate (AS) and the color filter substrate (CS) with a liquid crystal layer (not shown) therebetween. At least one side is formed roundly between the substrates AS and CS to form a columnar column spacer 214 having a shape fitted to one substrate.

In detail, the array substrate AS configures the thin film transistor T in the switching region S of the transparent insulating substrate 100, and the pixel electrode 118 in the pixel region P. Referring to FIG.

In this case, the thin film transistor T includes a semiconductor layer (active layer and an ohmic contact layer) and a semiconductor layer 106a and 106b disposed with the gate insulating layer 104 interposed between the gate electrode 102 and the gate electrode 102. ) And a source electrode 108 and a drain electrode 110 on the semiconductor layers 106a and 106b.

One side of the pixel region P forms a gate wiring (not shown) in contact with the gate electrode 102, and the drain electrode 110 is located on the other side of the pixel region P in a direction perpendicular to the gate wiring. And a data line 112 in contact with each other.

The passivation layer 114 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 100 including the thin film transistor T, the gate line, and the data line (not shown) 112, and the pixel electrode 118 is formed on the passivation layer.

The transparent organic film layer 120 including a plurality of etching grooves is partially formed on the substrate 100 including the pixel electrode 118.

The etching groove is rounded inwardly, and the diameter of the surface inlet of the transparent organic layer 120 is configured to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the inside.

As described above, the array substrate for the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can be configured.

The color filter substrate CS, which is bonded to the above-described array substrate, forms a black matrix 202 that is a light blocking means corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region P on one surface of the transparent insulating substrate 200. The color filters 204a, 204b, and 204c are configured corresponding to the area P. FIG.

The color filter is a form in which red, green, and blue color filters are sequentially formed in a plurality of pixel areas.

The transparent common electrode 208 is formed under the color filter filters 204a, 204b, and 204c. In the case of the transverse electric field system, since the common electrode and the pixel electrode are configured on the array substrate, the common electrode does not need to be configured.

A lower portion of the color filters 240a, 204b, and 204c forms a columnar column spacer 214 having rounded ends.                     

The color filter board | substrate which concerns on this invention can be comprised with the above structures.

According to the present invention, in the process of bonding the array substrate AS and the color filter substrate CS configured as described above, the round shape C of the column spacer 214 is inserted into the etching groove H of the array substrate. It is composed.

At this time, when a constant bonding pressure is applied, the round shape C of one end of the column spacer 214 is fitted through the inlet of the flexible etching groove H.

Such a structure can solve gap defects caused by pressure because both the column spacers can act as resistance components against the negative pressure applied from the outside of the liquid crystal panel or the positive pressure generated due to the expansion of the liquid crystal inside the liquid crystal panel. There is an advantage.

Hereinafter, a process of forming a color filter according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a photosensitive layer, such as an acrylic resin, is coated on a substrate 200 to a predetermined thickness to form a photosensitive layer 210.

Next, a mask M including the transmission part B1, the blocking part B2, and the diffraction part B3 is positioned on the spaced upper portion of the photosensitive layer 210.

In this case, the mask M has a form in which the blocking portion B2 is formed around the diffraction portion B3.

Next, a process of exposing and developing the lower photosensitive layer 210 by irradiating light (ultraviolet rays) to the upper portion of the mask M is performed.                     

As shown in FIG. 4B, when the developing process is completed, the patterned photosensitive layer 212 has a stepped pillar shape having a high center and a low periphery.

When the patterned photosensitive layer 212 is baked at a temperature of 300 ° C. or more, the surface of the photosensitive pattern 212 is melted and softened, and the center portion is deformed into a round shape. It will be hard.

In this process, a columnar column spacer 214 having one side formed in a round shape can be formed.

The color filter substrate may be formed by the above-described column spacer forming process, wherein the color filter substrate forms a black matrix as a light blocking means corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region before forming the column spacer, and the plurality of pixel regions. In response to this, a color filter substrate can be produced by sequentially forming red, green, and blue color filters.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing process of an array substrate according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5E.

As shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of pixel areas P including a switching area S is defined on the substrate 100.

First, a gate electrode 102, a gate electrode 102, and a gate wiring connected thereto are formed to correspond to the switching region S.

Next, the active layer 106a and the ohmic contact layer 106b are formed on the gate electrode 102 with the gate insulating layer 104 interposed therebetween.

Next, a source electrode 108 and a drain electrode 110 spaced apart from each other on the ohmic contact layer 106b are formed, and at the same time, the source electrode 108 is in contact with the source electrode 108 to be perpendicular to the gate wiring (not shown). The data lines 112 intersect each other to be formed.

Next, a passivation layer 114 exposing a portion of the drain electrode 110 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate 100 on which the source and drain electrodes 108 and 110 are formed.

Next, a pixel electrode 118 in contact with the drain electrode 110 is formed on the passivation layer 114 corresponding to the pixel region P. Referring to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5B, a transparent organic material including an acrylic resin is coated on the entire surface of the substrate 100 on which the pixel electrode 118 is formed to form the transparent organic layer 120. .

A photoresist is applied on the transparent organic layer 120 and then developed to partially expose the lower transparent organic layer 120 corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region P. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5C, a process of etching the lower transparent organic layer 120 under the etching process is performed.

At the beginning of the etching process, the cutting process is straightened as shown.

As shown in FIG. 5D, when the etching process is further performed, the inside of the etching groove H is etched into a round shape larger than the inlet of the etching groove H.

Next, a process of removing the photosensitive layer 124 around the etching groove H is performed.

As shown in FIG. 5E, by completing the removal process, an array substrate having a plurality of etching grooves H formed on a surface thereof may be manufactured.                     

When the above-described process of bonding the array substrate and the aforementioned color filter substrate proceeds, one round shape of the column spacer may be inserted into the etching groove of the array substrate to complete the liquid crystal panel.

The above-described column spacer is formed in a stepped shape in which one side has a different height from a center and a periphery, and in particular, the center portion having a high height has a round shape.

In addition, it may also be formed in the form shown in Figure 6 below.

6 is a cross-sectional view showing a column spacer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the column spacer 300 of another shape according to the present invention may be configured to have a columnar shape and one side of the column has a round shape (C).

At this time, the maximum diameter D1 of the rounded part C becomes larger than the diameter D1 of the pillar immediately below.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device including the column spacer according to the present invention can be manufactured.

Therefore, the liquid crystal panel manufactured by including the column spacer as described above can flexibly cope with the negative pressure applied from the outside or the positive pressure generated inside the liquid crystal panel, thereby preventing gap defects. Therefore, there is an effect that can produce a high-quality liquid crystal display device that does not cause stains.

Claims (10)

A first substrate on which a plurality of pixel regions including a switching region are defined; A switching element configured in the switching region of the first substrate; A pixel electrode configured in the pixel region; A transparent organic layer formed on the switching element and the pixel electrode and having a plurality of etching grooves corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; A second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; Light blocking means formed on one surface of the second substrate corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; A common electrode formed on the front surface of the second substrate including the light blocking means; A columnar column spacer is formed under the light blocking means, and has one side fitted into an etch groove of the first substrate. Liquid crystal display comprising a. The method of claim 1, And a color filter further configured to correspond to the pixel area. The method of claim 1, The column spacer has a columnar one side is formed in a round shape. The method of claim 1, And the rounded maximum diameter is larger or smaller than the lower columnar diameter. Preparing a first substrate and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate; Defining a plurality of pixel areas including a switching area on one surface of the first substrate; Forming a switching element in the switching region of the first substrate; Forming a pixel electrode in the pixel region; Forming a transparent organic layer on the switching element and the pixel electrode, the plurality of etching grooves being formed corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; Forming blocking means on one surface of the second substrate corresponding to the periphery of the pixel region; Forming a common electrode formed on an entire surface of the second substrate on which the light blocking means is formed; Forming a columnar column spacer formed at a lower portion of the light blocking means and configured to have one side fitted into an etching groove of the first substrate; Liquid crystal display device manufacturing method comprising a. The method of claim 5, Forming the column spacer is Forming a photosensitive layer on an entire surface of the second substrate, and placing a mask including a transmission part, a blocking part, and a diffraction part on the photosensitive layer; Irradiating light on the lower photosensitive layer from the top of the mask and then developing the photosensitive layer to form a columnar photosensitive layer having a different height between the center and the periphery; And applying heat to deform the center of the photosensitive layer into a round shape. The method of claim 6, The mask is a liquid crystal display device manufacturing method of the form of the blocking portion is formed around the diffraction portion. The method of claim 5, And forming a color filter corresponding to the pixel area. The method of claim 5, The column spacer is a liquid crystal display device comprising a columnar one side of the round shape. The method of claim 9, And the rounded maximum diameter is larger or smaller than the lower columnar diameter.

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