KR20080061047A - Display apparatus and method of manufacturing display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A display apparatus and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to improve the visibility and to prevent lowering of the contrast ratio from generating, thereby enhancing the display quality. A touch panel(200) is arranged at the upper side of the display apparatus(500) with the display panel as the reference. The first polarizing panel(310) is arranged on the touch panel. The second polarizing panel(320) is arranged at the lower side of the display panel. The display panel includes a back light assembly arranged at the lower portion of the second polarizing panel. The display panel receives the lower light through the back light assembly. The display panel includes a TFT(Thin Film Transistor) and an opposite substrate having the first surface opposite to the TFT. The touch panel has a bead spacer(230) arranged between the first and second transparent electrodes. In the touch panel, the first and second transparent electrodes are contacted electrically so that the position information is generated.

Description

Display device and manufacturing method thereof {DISPLAY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DISPLAY APPARATUS}

1 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for describing an operation of the display device of FIG. 1.

3A to 3C are flowcharts illustrating a method of manufacturing a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

500: display device 100: display panel

110: thin film transistor substrate 120: opposing substrate

200: touch panel 210: first transparent electrode

222: second transparent electrode 224: film

230: beads spacer 310, 320: first, second polarizing plate

600: blind plate

The present invention relates to a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, including a touch panel having improved visibility and improved display quality.

In general, a touch panel display (TSP) refers to a device that detects a contact position by bringing a person's hand or an object into contact with a character or an image displayed on a screen of a liquid crystal display. If the function of a display for recognizing information is conventionally limited to simply showing clearly, TSP is recently implemented as a method of transmitting or acquiring information while directly touching a human hand.

TSP generally uses a resistive film. The TSP of the resistive film type includes first and second transparent electrodes facing each other at a predetermined interval, and when the first and second transparent electrodes to which voltage is applied are in contact with each other, the TSP is applied to the first and second transparent electrodes. Each voltage can be measured to determine the contact location.

The specification of the TSP film applied to a display device including a general TSP always has the possibility of generating a Newton's Ring. The transparent electrode of any one of the 1st and 2nd transparent electrode of TSP is formed in the film for TSP. Since the Newton ring lowers the visibility of the TSP, a haze treatment or an anti-newton ring treatment is applied to the TSP film in order to improve the TSP.

While the problem of Newton ring can be improved by surface treatment of the film for TSP, sparkling phenomenon occurs by surface treatment of the film for TSP in high resolution products. On the contrary, when the clear type film without surface treatment of the TSP film is used to improve the sparkling phenomenon, Newton ring is generated so that the visibility of the TSP is not fundamentally solved. The surface treatment of the film for TSP is not only a sparkling phenomenon, but also a decrease in contrast ratio CR due to light scattering, which is a factor of lowering display quality.

Accordingly, the technical problem of the present invention was conceived in this respect, and an object of the present invention is to provide a display device including a touch panel having improved visibility and improved display quality.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the display device.

A display device according to an embodiment for realizing the object of the present invention is a display panel including a thin film transistor substrate, an opposing substrate facing the thin film transistor substrate and a first surface, disposed on a second surface of the opposing substrate A first polarizing plate formed on the second surface of the polarizing plate and the opposing substrate, a second transparent electrode formed on the polarizing plate to face the first transparent electrode, and beads disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes. And a touch panel having a spacer, wherein the touch panel is in electrical contact with the first and second transparent electrodes to generate position information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a display device, the method including: manufacturing a display panel including a thin film transistor substrate and an opposing substrate facing the thin film transistor substrate and the first surface; Forming a bead spacer on a first transparent electrode formed on the second surface of the opposing substrate; and between the first transparent electrode of the opposing substrate and a second transparent electrode formed on the polarizing plate and opposing the first transparent electrode. Bonding the display panel and the polarizer to dispose the bead spacer.

According to such a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a Newton ring or a sparkling phenomenon without additional processing on the touch panel. Accordingly, the visibility can be improved, and the display quality can be improved by preventing the lowering of the contrast ratio.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the display device 500 includes a display panel 100, a touch panel 200, a first polarizer 310, and a second polarizer 320. The touch panel 200 is disposed above the display panel 100 based on the display panel 100, and the first polarizing plate 310 is disposed on the touch panel 200. The second polarizer 320 is disposed under the display panel 100.

Although not illustrated, the display device 500 may include a backlight assembly disposed under the second polarizer 320 of the display panel 100, and the display panel 100 may be lowered through the backlight assembly. You are provided with light.

The display panel 100 displays an image using light. The display panel 100 is interposed between the thin film transistor substrate 110, the opposing substrate 120 facing the thin film transistor substrate 110, the thin film transistor substrate 110 and the opposing substrate 120. The liquid crystal layer 130 is included.

The thin film transistor substrate 110 is formed on a first base substrate (not shown), and includes a gate wiring (not shown) and a source wiring (not shown) that define a pixel region, and a switching element connected to the gate wiring and the source wiring. And a thin film transistor (not shown). The pixel electrode layer PE is electrically formed on the thin film transistor substrate 110.

The opposing substrate 120 faces the thin film transistor substrate 110, and is formed on a second base substrate (not shown) to define a light blocking pattern (not shown) that partitions the pixel region and a color filter formed in the pixel region. (Not shown). A common electrode layer CE is formed on the opposing substrate 120 to apply a common voltage to the pixel electrode layer PE.

The liquid crystal layer 130 is interposed between the thin film transistor substrate 110 and the opposing substrate 120. The arrangement of the plurality of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 130 is changed by an electric field between the pixel electrode layer PE and the common electrode layer CE. The arrayed liquid crystal molecules change light transmittance, and light with the changed light transmittance passes through the color filters to display an image.

The first and second polarizers 310 and 320 are disposed outside the thin film transistor substrate 110 and the opposing substrate 120 of the display panel 100, respectively. For example, the first and second polarizers 310 and 320 may be disposed such that each polarization axis is perpendicular or parallel to each other.

The touch panel 200 may be formed by a substrate in which the opposing substrate 120 and the first polarizing plate 310 disposed to be spaced apart from the opposing substrate 120 on the opposing substrate 120 face each other. It is defined as one panel. The touch panel 200 detects user input information by making electrical contact between the first transparent electrode 210 and the second transparent electrode 222.

The touch panel 200 includes a first transparent electrode 210, a second transparent electrode 222, and a bead spacer 230. Although not illustrated in the drawings, an adhesive member is formed at an edge of the touch panel 200 to bond the opposing substrate 120 and the first polarizing plate 310 to each other, and the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222. ) Are spaced apart from each other. The adhesive member may be made of an insulating adhesive material.

The first transparent electrode 210 is formed on the opposite side on which the common electrode layer CE of the opposing substrate 120 is formed. The second transparent electrode 222 is formed on one surface of the film 224 attached to the first polarizing plate 310 disposed on one side of the opposing substrate 120 to face the first transparent electrode 210. . The film 224 is a clear type film having a flat surface. The first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 are each made of a transparent and conductive material. The first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 may be formed of, for example, indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO).

The bead spacer 230 is disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222. The bead spacer 230 may prevent a short between the first transparent electrode 210 and the second transparent electrode 222 by separating the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 from each other. In addition, the bead spacer 230 may have a cell gap x of the touch panel 200 such that the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 may face each other in parallel with each other on the front surface of the touch panel 200. ) Can be kept constant. The cell gap x is defined as a distance between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222.

The bead spacer 230 is transparent to allow light to pass therethrough and has elasticity to be restored even after being contracted by pressure. The bead spacer 230 may be, for example, an elastic body formed of acrylic resin. The bead spacer 230 may be a circular or ellipsoid formed of the acrylic resin. Accordingly, when the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 are contacted by the pressure applied from the upper portion of the first polarizing plate 310 due to the elasticity of the bead spacer 230, the pressure may be caused by the pressure. Damage to the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 may be minimized.

The height y of the bead spacer 230, for example, when the bead spacer 230 is a circular body, a diameter of a circle is equal to the cell gap x of the touch panel 200, or The diameter of the circle may be larger than the cell gap x. For example, the height y of the bead spacer 230 may be approximately 60 μm to 85 μm. The bead spacer 230 is evenly distributed on the front surface of the touch panel 200. The bead spacer 230 may be disposed at a density of, for example, 1 / mm 2 or less.

In the existing touch panel, dot spacers (not shown) having a height lower than the cell gap x are disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 so that the first and second transparent electrodes 210 are disposed. , 222) was prevented. Even when the cell gap of the touch panel is about 60 μm or more, the dot spacers are generally formed to have a height of about 10 μm. In the conventional touch panel, the opposing substrate 120 and the first polarizing plate 310 are coupled only by the adhesive member to maintain a distance between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222. Accordingly, the second transparent electrode 222 is slightly disposed in the direction of gravity in the center portion of the existing touch panel without the second transparent electrode 222 disposed in parallel with the first transparent electrode 210. As the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 are not parallel to each other, a Newton ring phenomenon due to a path difference of light occurs.

In order to improve such a Newton ring phenomenon, the conventional touch panel required a separate surface treatment on the TSP film attached to the first polarizing plate 310, and the surface treatment is called a sparkling phenomenon by dispersion of light. As other problems occurred, there was a limit in improving visibility. In addition, lowering the contrast ratio has caused a decrease in display quality.

However, according to the present invention, the bead spacer 230 is disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 to prevent shorting of the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222. In addition, the bead spacer 230 is uniformly distributed on the front surface of the touch panel 200, so that the cell gap x between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 on the front surface of the touch panel 200. ) Can be kept constant. As a result, the Newton ring phenomenon can be fundamentally improved, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of the sparkling phenomenon by improving the visibility of the display device 500 by eliminating the need for a separate TSP film. In addition, the display quality of the display apparatus 500 may be improved by solving the problem of lowering the contrast ratio.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for describing an operation of the display device of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first transparent electrode 210 and the second transparent electrode 222 contact each other by a pressure applied from an upper side of the display device 500, for example, by a user's finger F. Referring to FIG. Done.

As the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 are made of a conductive material having a resistance component, the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 may be formed of the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222. When a current is applied to), it has a linear voltage distribution. Accordingly, when the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 are in contact with each other, the display device is measured by measuring a voltage at a contact point between the first transparent electrode 210 and the second transparent electrode 222. 500 may calculate a user's input position.

The bead spacer 230 disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 may have the same height as the cell gap x. On the contrary, even when the bead spacer 230 has a height higher than the cell gap x, the first and second transparent electrodes 210 may be contracted to some extent by elasticity of the bead spacer 230. 222 may be disposed between.

When the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 are in contact with each other by a user's input, the bead spacer 230 is formed by the elasticity of the bead spacer 230. Contact shocks between 210 and 222 can be mitigated. In addition, when the user releases the finger F, the bead spacer 230 is spaced apart from the first transparent electrode 210 by the restoring force of the bead spacer 230. The restoring force is provided to the second transparent electrode 222 as much as possible. The bead spacer 230 evenly disposed on the front surface of the touch panel 200 has the cell gap x between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 on the front surface of the touch panel 200. By keeping it constant, the Newton ring or sparkling phenomenon can be prevented.

3A to 3C are flowcharts illustrating a method of manufacturing a display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 3A through 3C are denoted by the same reference numerals as the components of the display device illustrated in FIG. 1, and a method of manufacturing the display device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3A through 3C under the same names as in FIG.

1 and 3A, the display panel 100 including the thin film transistor substrate 110 and the opposing substrate 120 is manufactured, and the opposing substrate corresponding to the outside of the display panel 100 is manufactured. The first transparent electrode 210 is formed at 120. The bead spacer 230 is formed on the first transparent electrode 210.

Specifically, the gate wiring, the source wiring and the switching element are formed on the first base substrate of the thin film transistor substrate 110. The pixel electrode layer PE is formed on the first base substrate including the switching element. The pixel electrode layer PE may be formed of, for example, ITO or IZO.

The light blocking pattern and the color filters are formed on the second base substrate of the opposing substrate 210. The common electrode layer CE is formed on the second base substrate including the light blocking pattern and the color filters. The common electrode layer CE may be formed of, for example, ITO or IZO.

The first transparent electrode is formed on the opposing substrate 120 of the display panel 100 including the thin film transistor substrate 110 and the opposing substrate 120 coupled by a sealant (not shown). The first transparent electrode 210 may be formed of, for example, ITO or IZO.

Subsequently, the shielding plate 600 is disposed on the first transparent electrode 210 based on the display panel 100 on which the first transparent electrode 210 is formed. The blocking plate 600 includes an opening 610 and a blocking part 620. The bead spacer 230 is disposed on the blocking panel 600 toward the display panel 100. The bead spacer 230 is disposed on the first transparent electrode 210 through the opening 610 of the blocking plate 600. The bead spacer 230 does not pass through the blocking plate 600 by the blocking part 620. The blocking plate 600 may be designed such that the opening 610 and the blocking part 620 are formed to correspond to a region where the bead spacer 230 is to be formed.

1, 3B and 3C, the adhesive member 700 is formed along the edge of the first transparent electrode on the first transparent electrode 210 in which the bead spacer 230 is dispersed. The adhesive member 700 is made of an insulating adhesive material.

The first polarizing plate 310 is disposed on the display panel 100 in a state where the bead spacer 230 is disposed on the first transparent electrode 210 and the adhesive member 700 is formed. 100 and the first polarizing plate 310 are coupled using the adhesive member 700. The film 224 having the second transparent electrode 222 is attached to the combined first polarizing plate 310. The first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222 may face each other by combining the display panel 100 and the first polarizing plate 310. Accordingly, the opposing substrate 120 of the display panel 100 and the touch panel 200 defined by the first polarizing plate 310 are formed.

Subsequently, the adhesive member 700 and the bead spacer 230 are cured in a state in which the display panel 100 and the first polarizing plate 310 are coupled by the adhesive member 700. For the curing, for example, ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the display panel 100 and the first polarizing plate 310 which are coupled to each other. The cured adhesive member 700 and the bead spacer 230 are fixed between the first and second transparent electrodes 210 and 222.

According to such a display device and a method of manufacturing the same, by forming a bead spacer in the touch panel, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a Newton ring or a sparkling phenomenon without additional processing. Accordingly, the visibility can be improved, and the display quality can be improved by preventing the lowering of the contrast ratio.

Although described with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Could be.

Claims (6)

A display panel including a thin film transistor substrate and an opposing substrate facing the thin film transistor substrate and the first surface; A polarizer disposed on a second surface of the opposing substrate; And A first transparent electrode formed on the second surface of the opposing substrate, a second transparent electrode formed on the polarizing plate to face the first transparent electrode, and bead spacers disposed between the first and second transparent electrodes Including a touch panel, And the touch panel generates position information by electrically contacting the first and second transparent electrodes. The display device of claim 1, wherein the bead spacer is a transparent elastic body. The diameter of the bead spacer of claim 2 And a distance greater than or equal to a distance between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. Manufacturing a display panel including a thin film transistor substrate and an opposing substrate facing the thin film transistor substrate and the first surface; Forming a bead spacer on a first transparent electrode formed on the second surface of the opposing substrate; And Coupling the display panel and the polarizing plate such that the bead spacer is disposed between the first transparent electrode of the opposing substrate and the second transparent electrode formed on the polarizing plate and facing the first transparent electrode. Method of preparation. The method of claim 4, wherein forming the bead spacer Disposing a shield plate on the second surface of the opposing substrate on which the first transparent electrode is formed; And And dispersing the bead spacer from the upper portion of the shielding plate toward the opposing substrate. The method of claim 4, further comprising curing the bead spacer disposed between the combined display panel and the polarizer.

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