KR20070003165A - Liquid crystal display device and fabrication method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An LCD and a method for manufacturing the same are provided to be capable of omitting a silver dot forming process, thereby shortening the manufacturing time of the LCD, by adding conductive balls for electrically connecting a common line and a common electrode in a sealing line. An LCD comprises a first substrate(110) and a second substrate(120). A common electrode(121) is formed on the second substrate. A common line(117) is formed in the edge region of the first substrate. A common line connecting pattern(113) is connected to the common line, and extended to the outside of the common line. A sealing line(119) is configured to bind the first substrate and the second substrate, and overlaps the common line connecting pattern. The sealing line contains conductive spacers(130) for electrically connecting the common electrode and the common electrode line.

Description

Liquid crystal display device and its manufacturing method {Liquid Crystal Display Device and Fabrication method

1 is a plan view schematically showing a conventional liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a silver dot for supplying a common voltage to the common electrode illustrated in FIG. 1.

Is a floor plan.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 2;

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

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II 'of FIG. 4;

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

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ′ of FIG. 6;

8 is a view showing still another example according to the present invention.

9 and 10 are exemplary views illustrating positions of contact bars that may be formed on a common line.

*** Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ***

103,203: gate insulating film 111,211: protective film

113, 213: common line connection pattern 115, 215: contact bar

117, 217: common line 119, 219: sealing material

121,221: common electrode 130,230: conductive ball

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and to a liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same, which can shorten the process time and improve reliability.

The liquid crystal display device displays an image by adjusting the light transmittance of the liquid crystal using an electric field. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display device 1 includes a thin film transistor array substrate 10, a color filter substrate 20, and a liquid crystal layer 30 formed between the two substrates.

The thin film transistor array substrate 10 is a thin film formed at the intersection of the gate line 12 and the data line 14, which define a plurality of pixels on the first substrate 11 to cross each other. And a transistor (TFT). In the pixel region, a pixel electrode 15 connected to the thin film transistor TFT is formed.

The color filter substrate 20 includes a black matrix 28 formed on the second substrate 20 to prevent light leakage and a color filter 22 for implementing color. The common electrode 24 is formed on the color filter 22, and the common electrode 24 forms an electric field in the liquid crystal layer 30 together with the pixel electrode 15.

The thin film transistor array substrate 10 and the color filter substrate 20 configured as described above are bonded by a sealing material (not shown), and the liquid crystal molecules are formed by the thin film transistor formed on the thin film transistor array substrate 10. Is driven to display the information by controlling the amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 30.

Meanwhile, in order to apply a signal (common voltage) to the common electrode 14 of the color filter substrate 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is common to the first substrate 10 outside the sealing material 35. A common line 19 for signal application is formed, and the silver dot 40 is provided on the common line 19. The silver dot 40 is a thin film transistor array substrate 10 and a color filter substrate in a paste state. Doped between the 20, the common line 19 formed on the first substrate 10 and the common electrode 24 formed on the second substrate 20 are electrically connected to each other. In this case, the common line 19 is formed on the gate insulating layer 11, and a passivation layer 13 is formed on the common line 19. The silver dot 40 is formed on the passivation layer 13 and is connected to the common line connection pattern 16 connected to the common line 19 through a contact hole.

As described above, the conventional liquid crystal display device has to apply a signal to the common electrode of the color filter substrate through silver dot formation. In particular, in the case of a small model, after forming a plurality of small panel regions on the mother glass, The silver dot process has to be applied to all panel areas, which makes the process more complicated and requires more processing time than the large-size liquid crystal display panel.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device and a method for manufacturing the same, which can shorten the process time.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device and a method of manufacturing the same to improve the reliability.

The present invention for achieving the above object, the first and second substrate; A common electrode formed on the second substrate; A common line formed on an outer side of the first substrate; A common line connection pattern connected to the common line on the common line and extending outward of the common line; And a sealing material overlapping the common line connection pattern formed on the outer side of the common line, bonding the first and second substrates, and a conductive spacer electrically connecting the common electrode and the common line. To provide.

At least one insulating layer is interposed between the common line and the common line connection pattern, and the common line and the common line connection pattern are electrically connected to each other through a contact portion exposing a portion of the common line.

The insulating film may be a protective film, or a gate insulating film and a protective film.

Meanwhile, the common line connection pattern formed in the region overlapping the sealing material may be formed on the insulating film or on the first substrate.

The contact portion in contact with the common line and the common line connection pattern may be formed in a bar shape, and in particular, may be formed in a bar shape along the common line.

The conductive spacer may include one of an Au ball, an Ag ball, and an Al ball, and the separation distance between the common line and the sealing material may be 50 μm or more.

On the other hand, on the first substrate, a plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction; A plurality of data lines crossing the gate lines perpendicularly to define a plurality of pixels; A switching element formed at an intersection of the gate line and the data line; And a pixel electrode formed in the pixel region and connected to the switching element, and formed on the second substrate; And the color filter.

In addition, the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention comprises the steps of preparing a first and a second substrate; Forming a common line on an outer side of the first substrate; Forming an insulating film on an entire surface of the first substrate including the common line; Patterning the insulating layer to form a contact portion exposing the common line; Forming a common line connection pattern connected to the common line through the contact unit on the common line and extending outwardly of the common line; And bonding the first and second substrates through a sealing material overlapping the connection pattern extending outwardly of the common line and including a conductive spacer electrically connecting the common line and the common line connection pattern. Is done.

The step of forming an insulating film on the first substrate may include forming a gate insulating film on the first substrate or forming a gate insulating film on the first substrate; And forming a passivation layer on the gate insulating layer.

The forming of the contact portion may further include exposing a first substrate in a region where the sealing material is to be formed.

As described above, the present invention can omit the silver clay forming step by removing the silver dot by using a sealing material containing a conductive spacer. Furthermore, the present invention does not overlap the common line and the sealing material, and by connecting the conductive ball and the common line included in the sealing material through a common line connection pattern formed extending to the sealing material region on the common line, thereby preventing corrosion of the common line. prevent.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage of reducing the content of the conductive ball in the sealing material by widening the contact area between the bars to the contact portion for electrically connecting the common line and the common line connection pattern in the shape of a bar.

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

4 and 5 schematically illustrate a liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II 'of FIG. 4.

In the drawing, the liquid crystal display device 100 according to the first embodiment is formed between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 on which the image display unit P is defined, and the first and second substrates 110 and 120. It consists of a liquid crystal layer (not shown). In this case, the first and second substrates 110 and 120 are bonded by a sealing material 119 formed along the outer edge of the image display part P, and the sealing material 119 includes a conductive spacer 130 (FIG. 5).

Although not shown in detail in the drawing, a plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction and a plurality of data lines defining a plurality of pixels by crossing the gate lines perpendicularly to the first line 110 are formed on the first substrate 110. In the intersection area, a switching element for switching each pixel is provided. In each pixel area, a pixel electrode connected to the switching element is formed.

On the other hand, a pad portion 140 is provided on the first substrate 110 that does not overlap the second substrate 120 to supply a signal to the gate line and the data line from an external driving circuit.

On the second substrate 120, a black matrix that blocks light leakage and a color filter separated by cell regions by the black matrix are formed to implement color. A common electrode is formed on the color filter to drive the liquid crystal molecules by generating an electric field together with the pixel electrode.

In addition, in order to apply a common voltage to the second substrate 120, a common line for applying a common voltage 117 is formed on the first substrate 110, and the common line 117 is the pad part 140. Is connected to the common signal pad 117P, and supplies a common voltage applied from the outside to the common electrode.

As shown in FIG. 5, a conductive ball 130 is interposed between the common line 117 and the common electrode 121, and a common voltage applied to the common line 117 through the conductive ball 130. The common electrode 121 is supplied. At this time, the conductive ball 130 is included in the sealing material 119, the conductive ball 130 has silver (Ag), gold (Au) on the outside of the ball spacer to have a conductivity and maintain a constant height The conductive material such as) is covered and formed. This conductive ball must be able to maintain its height even at a predetermined pressure, unlike the conductive ball included in the anisotropic conductive film (ACF).

The common line 117 is formed on the gate insulating layer 111 formed on the first substrate 110, and the passivation layer 103 is formed on the common line 117. In addition, a plurality of contact holes 115 exposing the common line 117 are formed on the passivation layer 103, and are formed on the common line 117 and the passivation layer 103 through the contact hole 115. The common line connection pattern 113 formed in the connection is connected. Therefore, the conductive ball 130 electrically connects the common line connection pattern 113 and the common electrode 121 connected to the common line 117 through the contact hole 115.

Since the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above includes a conductive ball 130 electrically connecting the common line 117 and the common electrode 121 in the sealing material 119, the silver dot forming process Can be omitted, and thus, the process time can be shortened and productivity can be improved.

On the other hand, in the liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment, only the conductive balls 130 distributed in the region where the contact hole 115 is formed may electrically connect the common line 117 and the common electrode 121. Therefore, since a sufficient amount of conductive balls must be put in the area corresponding to the contact hole 115, a problem of a material cost increase due to an increase in the content of the conductive balls occurs.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the sealing material 119 overlaps with the common line 117, the moisture component contained in the sealing material 119 penetrates into the common line 117, thereby closing the common line 117. Corrosion causes a problem of low reliability of the device.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in particular to solve this problem, and the common line connection pattern in contact with the common line is formed to extend outward of the common line, and the sealing material containing conductive balls extends outward of the common line. By forming the common line connection pattern to overlap, the common line is prevented from being corroded by moisture contained in the sealing material.

In addition, the present invention reduces the content of the conductive balls added to the sealing material by forming a bar-shaped contact portion to which the common line and the common electrode are connected to reduce the material cost.

6 and 7 schematically illustrate a liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention to prevent corrosion of a common line and to reduce a content of a conductive ball added into a sealing material. FIG. 6 is a plan view. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ′ of FIG. 6. In the second embodiment, all configurations except the forming position and the contact portion of the sealing material are the same as in the previous embodiment (first embodiment), and detailed description of the same configuration as in the previous embodiment will be omitted.

As shown in the drawing, the liquid crystal display device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate 210 and a second substrate 220 in which an image display unit P is defined, and the first and second substrates. It consists of a liquid crystal layer (not shown) formed between the two substrates (210, 220). In this case, the first and second substrates 210 and 220 are bonded by a sealing material 217 formed along the outer side of the image display unit P, and between the first and second substrates 210 and 220. The liquid crystal layer is formed in spaced spaces. The sealing material 219 includes a conductive spacer (conductive ball) 230 (see FIG. 7).

As mentioned in the previous embodiment, a gate line and a data line defining a plurality of pixels are formed on the first substrate 210, and a switching element for switching each pixel is formed in an intersection area thereof. Each pixel region is provided with a pixel electrode in contact with the switching element.

On the other hand, on the first substrate 210 that does not overlap the second substrate 220, a pad unit 240 for transmitting an external signal to the image display unit is provided.

In addition, a black matrix and a color filter are formed on the second substrate 220, and a common electrode 221 is formed on the color filter to generate an electric field in the pixel electrode and the liquid crystal layer to drive the liquid crystal molecules ( See FIG. 7).

In order to apply a common voltage to the common electrode 221, a common line for applying a common voltage 217 is formed on the first substrate 210, and the common line 217 is formed on the pad part 240. An external signal is applied from the common signal pad 217P and supplied to the common electrode 221. At this time, the common line 217 supplies the common voltage applied from the outside to the common electrode 221 by the conductive balls 230 included in the common electrode connection pattern 213 and the sealing material 219.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a sealing material 219 including a common line connection pattern 213 and a conductive ball 230 is interposed between the common line 217 and the common electrode 221. In this case, the conductive ball 230 overlaps the common electrode connection pattern 213 extending to the outside of the common line 217, which is a sealing material 219 does not overlap the common line 217. This is because it is formed in an area outside the common line 217. In this case, the conductive ball 230 is formed by covering a conductive material such as silver (Ag), gold (Au), aluminum (Al) and the like on the outside of the ball spacer so as to have conductivity and maintain a constant height. This conductive ball must be able to maintain its height even at a predetermined pressure, unlike the conductive ball included in the anisotropic conductive film (ACF). In addition, the conductive ball 230 may also be a conductive glass fiber (conductive glass fiber).

The common line 217 is formed on the gate insulating film 211 formed on the first substrate 210, and a protective film 203 is formed on the entire surface of the first substrate 210 including the common line 217. Formed. In addition, a contact bar 215 exposing the common line 217 is formed on the passivation layer 203, and the contact bar 215 is formed in a bar shape along the common line 217. The common line connection pattern 213 is formed on the passivation layer 203 to be connected to the common line 217 through the contact bar 213 and extend outward of the common line 217.

In addition, a sealing material 219 is formed on the common line connection pattern 213 extending to the outside of the common line 217, and the conductive ball 230 included in the sealing material 219 is the common line connection pattern ( The common line 217 and the common electrode 221 are electrically connected through the 213.

On the other hand, the contact bar 215 may be formed along the common line 217, in particular, the contact bar 215 is not limited to a specific position of the common line 217, it may be formed on any side. have. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the contact bar 215 may be formed on the common line 217 disposed parallel to each other, or may be formed on the neighboring common line 217. 9 and 10 illustrate a position where the contact bar 215 may be formed on the common line 217. In addition, the contact bar 215 may be formed in the form of several bars on the common line of one side.

In the second embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, since the sealing material is formed on the outside of the common line 217 and is spaced apart by a predetermined distance or more through the common line connection pattern 213, the sealing material 219 Moisture contained in can be prevented from penetrating the common line 217.

In addition, the contact area between the common line 217 and the common line connection pattern 213 is wider than the previous embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), and the conductive balls 230 included in the sealing material 219 Regardless of the position of the common line connection pattern 213, the conductive line may be electrically connected to the common line 217 and the common electrode 221, so that the amount of conductive balls added to the sealing material 219 may be increased. Can be reduced. That is, in the previous embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), the conductive ball must be disposed in the contact hole region, so that the common line and the common electrode can be connected. On the other hand, in this embodiment, regardless of the location of the conductive ball 230, as long as the conductive ball 230 only contacts the common electrode connection pattern 213, between the common line 217 and the common electrode 221 Since the electrical connection is possible, the amount of the conductive balls 230 contained in the sealing material 219 can be reduced compared to the previous embodiment.

In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the common line 217 may be formed on the gate insulating layer 211 or the first substrate 210. That is, the common line 217 may be formed on the same plane as the gate line (first substrate) or on the same plane as the data line (gate insulating layer).

The common line connection pattern 213 may be formed on the same plane as the pixel electrode, and may be formed of a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, a structure in which the gate insulating film and the protective films 211 and 203 are removed in a region where the sealing material 219 is applied is also possible. At this time, the separation distance between the sealing material 219 and the common line 217 should be maintained at 50㎛ or more. However, when an insulating film such as a gate insulating film and a protective film is formed in a region where the sealing material is applied, the size of the conductive balls can be reduced.

The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention configured as described above will be briefly described. First, a first substrate and a second substrate are prepared, and then a gate line is formed on the first substrate. In this case, the common line may also be formed.

Subsequently, after the gate insulating layer is coated on the entire surface of the first substrate including the gate line, a data line defining a plurality of pixels is formed by crossing the gate line vertically. In this case, it is also possible to form a common line on the gate insulating film.

Thereafter, after forming a protective film on the entire surface of the first substrate including the data line and the common line, the protective film is patterned to form a contact bar exposing the common line. In this case, the gate insulating layer and the protective layer formed outside the common line may be removed.

A pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer corresponding to the pixel area, connected to the common line through the contact bar, and a common line connection pattern extending outward of the common line.

Next, after the black matrix, the color filter, and the common electrode are formed on the second substrate, a sealing material including a conductive ball is coated on the outside thereof, and the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded through the sealing material. . At this time, the sealing material does not overlap the common line.

As described above, the present invention can omit the silver dot process by adding a conductive ball electrically connecting the common line and the common electrode to the inside of the sealing material.

In addition, the present invention by applying a sealing material on the outside of the common line, it is possible to prevent the common line from corrosion, it is possible to reduce the content of the conductive ball by increasing the area that can be contacted of the conductive ball.

As described above, according to the present invention, the present invention eliminates the silver dot forming step, thereby shortening the process time and further improving productivity.

In addition, the present invention can prevent the common line from corrosion, thereby improving the reliability of the device, it is possible to reduce the material cost by minimizing the content of the conductive ball.

Claims (16)

First and second substrates; A common electrode formed on the second substrate; A common line formed on an outer side of the first substrate; A common line connection pattern connected to the common line on the common line and extending outward of the common line; And And a sealing material including a conductive spacer overlapping the common line connection pattern formed on the outer side of the common line, bonding the first and second substrates, and electrically connecting the common electrode and the common line. The method of claim 1, At least one insulating layer is interposed between the common line and the common line connection pattern, and the common line and the common line connection pattern are electrically connected to each other through a contact portion exposing a part of the common line. . The method of claim 2, And the insulating film is a protective film. The method of claim 2, And the insulating film is a gate insulating film and a protective film. The method of claim 2, And a common line connection pattern formed in a region overlapping the sealing material. The method of claim 1, And a common line connection pattern formed in an area overlapping the sealing material, on the first substrate. The method of claim 6, The separation distance between the common line and the sealing material is 50㎛ or more. The method of claim 1, And the contact portion has a bar shape. The method of claim 1, The conductive spacer includes one of an Au ball, an Ag ball, and an aluminum ball. The method of claim 1, On the first substrate, A plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction; A plurality of data lines crossing the gate lines perpendicularly to define a plurality of pixels; A switching element formed at an intersection of the gate line and the data line; And And a pixel electrode formed in the pixel region and connected to the switching element. The method of claim 1, On the second substrate, Black matrix; And And a color filter. The method of claim 1, The common line connection pattern is formed of a transparent conductive material. Preparing first and second substrates; Forming a common line on an outer side of the first substrate; Forming an insulating film on an entire surface of the first substrate including the common line; Patterning the insulating layer to form a contact portion exposing the common line; Forming a common line connection pattern connected to the common line through the contact unit on the common line and extending outwardly of the common line; And Bonding the first and second substrates to each other through a sealing material overlapping the connection pattern extending outwardly of the common line and including a conductive spacer electrically connecting the common line and the common line connection pattern. Method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device. The method of claim 13, Forming an insulating film on the first substrate, And forming a gate insulating film on the first substrate. The method of claim 13, Forming an insulating film on the first substrate, Forming a gate insulating film on the first substrate; And And forming a protective film on the gate insulating film. The method of claim 13, Forming the contact portion, And exposing a first substrate in a region where the sealing material is to be formed.

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