KR20120042437A - Circular liquid crystal module and fabricating method of touch screen using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A circular liquid crystal module and a manufacturing method thereof are provided to bend a first side of a protrusion portion corresponding to an inlet and third and fourth sides of a protrusion portion. CONSTITUTION: A liquid crystal panel includes a main area and a sub area. The main area includes a display area and a non display area. The display space is circular. The sub area includes a protrusion portion(230). The protrusion portion includes a straight first side(230a), a second side(230b) having a circular arc shape contacting the main area, and third and fourth sides(230c, 230d) having curved shapes for connecting the first and second sides. A mold frame(260) surrounds the liquid crystal panel and a backlight unit.

Description

Circular liquid crystal module and its manufacturing method {CIRCULAR LIQUID CRYSTAL MODULE AND FABRICATING METHOD OF TOUCH SCREEN USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a circular liquid crystal module, and more particularly, to a flexible printed circuit attachment device for attaching a touch flexible printed circuit to a touch screen having a driving integrated circuit and a display flexible printed circuit, and a method of manufacturing a touch screen module using the same. It is about.

In line with the information age, the display field has also been rapidly developed, and as a flat panel display device (FPD) with the advantages of thinning, light weight, and low power consumption, a liquid crystal display device (LCD) has been developed. ), Plasma display panel device (PDP), electro luminescence display device (ELD), field emission display device (FED), etc. : It is rapidly replacing CRT.

Among the flat panel display devices, the liquid crystal display device is suitable for moving picture display and has a large contrast ratio. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device is most actively used in fields such as notebooks, monitors, and TVs.

The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal module including a liquid crystal panel for displaying an image, a backlight unit for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel, and a mold frame surrounding and encapsulating the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit. It will be described with reference to.

1 and 2 are an exploded perspective view and a plan view of a conventional liquid crystal module, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal module 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 20 for displaying an image, a backlight unit 40 disposed under the liquid crystal panel 20 to supply light, and a liquid crystal. And a mold frame 60 that surrounds and integrates the panel 20 and the backlight unit 40.

The liquid crystal panel 20 includes first and second substrates 22 and 24 spaced apart from each other and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) formed between the first and second substrates 22 and 24. The second substrate 24 is formed to have a smaller size than the first substrate 22 to expose the edge portion of the first substrate 22, and the exposed first substrate 22 has a pad portion 28 connected to an external driving circuit. ) Is formed.

The liquid crystal panel 20 is an array process of forming an array element on a mother substrate (not shown), and the mother substrate is bonded to each other and cut into cell units corresponding to the first and second substrates 22 and 24. It is then formed through a cell process for injecting liquid crystal.

That is, the gate wiring, the data wiring, the thin film transistor, and the pixel electrode are formed in each of the plurality of cell regions of the first mother substrate, and the black matrix, the color filter, and the common electrode are formed in each of the plurality of cell regions of the second mother substrate. After the array process is completed, a seal pattern (not shown) including an injection hole is formed in each cell region of one of the first and second mother substrates to bond the first and second mother substrates together.

Then, the bonded first and second mother substrates are cut in cell units, and then the liquid crystal is injected through the injection holes between the bonded first and second substrates 22 and 24.

After the liquid crystal injection is completed, the injection holes of the bonded first and second substrates 22 and 24 are blocked by the encapsulant 26.

Although not shown, the backlight unit 40 may include a light source and a plurality of optical sheets, and may be configured as a direct type or an edge type.

In addition, a fluorescent lamp or a light emitting diode may be used as the light source.

The mold frame 60 may be combined with the upper frame (not shown) and the lower frame (not shown) to integrate the liquid crystal panel 20 and the backlight unit 40. The mold frame 60 may contact the encapsulant 26 of the injection hole and In order to prevent defects, the opening 62 has an opening 62 corresponding to the encapsulant 26.

Such liquid crystal displays generally have a rectangular shape, but recently, there is a need for various types of liquid crystal display devices other than squares such as watches, mobile phones, game consoles, and digital photo frames. It will be described with reference to.

3 is a plan view of a conventional circular liquid crystal module, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of portion A of FIG.

3 and 4, the liquid crystal module 110 includes a liquid crystal panel 120 displaying an image, a backlight unit (not shown) disposed under the liquid crystal panel 120 to supply light, The mold frame 160 surrounds and integrates the liquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit.

The liquid crystal panel 120 includes first and second substrates 122 and 124 spaced apart from each other and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) formed between the first and second substrates 122 and 124. The second substrate 124 is formed to have a smaller size than the first substrate 122 to expose the edge portion of the first substrate 122, and the exposed first substrate 122 has a pad portion 128 connected to an external driving circuit. ) Is formed.

The liquid crystal panel 120 includes an array process of forming an array element on a mother substrate (not shown), and joining the mother substrate to cut the cell unit corresponding to the first and second substrates 122 and 124. It is then formed through a cell process for injecting liquid crystal.

That is, the gate wiring, the data wiring, the thin film transistor, and the pixel electrode are formed in each of the plurality of cell regions of the first mother substrate, and the black matrix, the culffer filter, and the common electrode are formed in each of the plurality of cell regions of the second mother substrate. After the array process is completed, a seal pattern (not shown) including an injection hole is formed in each cell region of one of the first and second mother substrates to bond the first and second mother substrates together.

Then, the bonded first and second mother substrates are cut in cell units, and then the liquid crystal is injected through the injection holes between the bonded first and second substrates 122 and 124.

After the liquid crystal injection is completed, the injection holes of the bonded first and second substrates 122 and 124 are blocked by the encapsulant 126.

Here, the liquid crystal panel 120 includes a main area MA and an auxiliary area SA, and the main area MA includes a display area DA and a non-display area NDA.

Although not shown, the display area DA is an area in which a gate wiring, a data wiring, and a thin film transistor are formed to display an image, and has a substantially circular shape. The non-display area NDA is a gate signal in the display area DA. , An area in which various wirings and pads 128 for supplying data signals and the like are formed.

The auxiliary area SA is an area in which an injection hole for liquid crystal injection is formed and includes a protrusion 130 extending from the main area MA.

That is, the injection holes of the first and second substrates 122 and 124 bonded to inject the liquid crystal are immersed in the liquid crystal material. In this case, the protrusion 130 must have a flat side corresponding to the injection hole for a smooth liquid crystal injection process. do.

Accordingly, the protruding portion 130 is disposed on the opposite side of the first flat side 130a and the first side 130a in the form of a straight line, and the second side 130b in the form of an arc contacting the main area MA, and the first and second sides. It has a straight third and fourth sides (130c, 130d) of a straight line connecting the second sides (130a, 130b).

Although not shown, the backlight unit may include a light source and a plurality of optical sheets, and may be configured as a direct type or an edge type.

In addition, a fluorescent lamp or a light emitting diode may be used as the light source.

The mold frame 160 may be combined with the upper frame (not shown) and the lower frame (not shown) to integrate the liquid crystal panel 120 and the backlight unit. The mold frame 160 may contact the encapsulant 126 at the injection hole and thereby cause a defect. In order to prevent this, it has an opening 162 corresponding to the encapsulant 126.

The mold frame 160 has an inner surface bent in two stages corresponding to the first, third, and fourth sides 130a, 130c, and 130d of the protrusion 130.

However, in the manufacturing of such a circular liquid crystal module, when cutting the cell unit of the bonded first and second substrates 122 and 124, the third and fourth sides 130c and 130d and the main region () of the protrusion 130 are formed. Many defects in scribing processes, such as chipping, occur at the contacts of the MA, resulting in incomplete cell-to-cell cutting.

In addition, a processing residue (burr) occurs in the scribing process, and the processing residue may contact the mold frame 160 to cause cracks in the liquid crystal panel 120.

In fact, when the drop test was conducted on the steel plate at 1 m, six of the ten circular liquid crystal modules 110 caused a driving failure due to breakage of the thin film transistor of the liquid crystal panel 120. Defects in the creeping process are a major problem, such as lowering product reliability and yield.

According to the present invention, by forming the first and third sides of the protrusion corresponding to the injection hole and the third and fourth sides of the protrusion connecting the main region in a curved form, the processing liquid residue is prevented and the reliability and yield are improved. And its manufacturing method.

In addition, the present invention, by forming a chamfer (chamfer) on the inner surface of the mold frame corresponding to the protrusion, thereby preventing the contact of the mold frame and the liquid crystal panel, improved reliability and yield, and another method for manufacturing the same There is a purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a main region comprising a display area displaying an image and having a circular shape, and a non-display area surrounding the display area, a first side in a straight line form, and the first area. A liquid crystal panel including an auxiliary region disposed on an opposite side of the side and having an arc-shaped second side contacting the main region and a protrusion having third and fourth sides of a curved shape connecting the first and second sides; ; A backlight unit for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel; It provides a circular liquid crystal module comprising a mold frame surrounding the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit to integrate.

Here, the first side may correspond to an injection hole for injecting liquid crystal.

In addition, an encapsulant for blocking the injection hole may be formed on the first side.

In addition, the radius of curvature of each of the third and fourth sides may be proportional to the width of the first side.

Each of the third and fourth sides may have a radius of curvature in a range of 5 mm to 8 mm.

In addition, the mold frame may have an opening corresponding to the first side.

A chamfer corresponding to the third and fourth sides may be formed on an inner surface of the mold frame.

Further, when the outer tolerance of the liquid crystal panel is a and the inner surface tolerance of the mold frame is b, the cumulative tolerance c is the square root of the sum of the square of a and the square of b (c = SQRT (a ² + b ² )). The distance d between the edge of the protrusion and the starting point of the chamfer of the mold frame may be 1/2 of the cumulative tolerance (d = c / 2).

The liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate on which a gate wiring, a data wiring, a thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode are formed, a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate, and a black matrix, a color filter layer, and a common electrode are formed. It may include a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrate.

On the other hand, the present invention comprises the steps of forming a gate wiring, a data wiring, a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode on the first mother substrate; Forming a black matrix, a color filter layer, and a common electrode on the second mother substrate; Forming a seal pattern on one of the first and second mother substrates and bonding the first and second mother substrates together; A main area comprising a display area having a circular shape and a non-display area surrounding the display area by cutting the bonded first and second mother substrates in cell units to display an image, and a first side having a straight shape And an auxiliary region including a second side of an arc shape disposed opposite to the first side and in contact with the main area, and a protrusion having a third and fourth sides of a curved shape connecting the first and second sides. Forming a bonded first and second substrates including; Injecting liquid crystal between the bonded first and second substrates to complete a liquid crystal panel; Disposing a backlight unit under the liquid crystal panel; It provides a method of manufacturing a circular liquid crystal module comprising the step of enclosing the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit in a mold frame.

The manufacturing method of the circular liquid crystal module may further include forming an encapsulant on the first side after injecting the liquid crystal.

In the circular liquid crystal module and its manufacturing method according to the present invention, the scribing process of the liquid crystal panel by forming the third and fourth sides of the projection connecting the first side and the main region corresponding to the injection hole in a curved form, It is possible to prevent processing residues from occurring and improve the reliability and yield of the circular liquid crystal module.

In addition, by forming a chamfer (chamfer) on the inner surface of the mold frame corresponding to the protrusion, it is possible to prevent the contact of the mold frame and the liquid crystal panel to improve the reliability and yield of the circular liquid crystal module.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional liquid crystal module.
2 is a plan view of a conventional liquid crystal module.
3 is a plan view of a conventional circular liquid crystal module.
4 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 3.
5 is an exploded perspective view of a circular liquid crystal module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a plan view of a circular liquid crystal module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is an enlarged view of a portion B of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a change in radius of curvature of third and fourth sides according to a change in width of a first side of a protrusion of a liquid crystal panel in a circular liquid crystal module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

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

5 and 6 are exploded perspective and plan views of a circular liquid crystal module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, respectively, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion B of FIG. 6.

5, 6, and 7, the liquid crystal module 210 includes a liquid crystal panel 220 displaying an image and a backlight unit 240 disposed under the liquid crystal panel 220 to supply light. And a mold frame 260 which surrounds and integrates the liquid crystal panel 220 and the backlight unit 240.

The liquid crystal panel 220 includes first and second substrates 222 and 224 spaced apart from each other and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) formed between the first and second substrates 222 and 224. The second substrate 224 is formed to have a smaller size than the first substrate 222 to expose the edge portion of the first substrate 222, and a pad connected to an external driving circuit at the edge portion of the exposed first substrate 222. Part 228 is formed.

The liquid crystal panel 220 is an array process of forming an array element on a mother substrate (not shown), and the mother substrate is bonded to each other and cut into cell units corresponding to the first and second substrates 222 and 224. It is then formed through a cell process for injecting liquid crystal.

That is, the gate wiring, the data wiring, the thin film transistor, and the pixel electrode are formed in each of the plurality of cell regions of the first mother substrate, and the black matrix, the culffer filter layer, and the common electrode are formed in each of the plurality of cell regions of the second mother substrate. After the array process is completed, a seal pattern (not shown) including an injection hole is formed in each cell region of one of the first and second mother substrates to bond the first and second mother substrates together.

Then, the bonded first and second mother substrates are cut in cell units, and then the liquid crystal is injected through the injection holes between the bonded first and second substrates 222 and 224.

After the liquid crystal injection is completed, the injection holes of the bonded first and second substrates 222 and 224 are blocked by the encapsulant 226.

Here, the liquid crystal panel 220 includes a main area MA and an auxiliary area SA, and the main area MA includes a display area DA and a non-display area NDA.

Although not shown, the display area DA is a region in which gate wirings, data wirings, and thin film transistors are formed to display an image, and has a substantially circular shape, and the non-display area NDA surrounds the display area DA. It is an area in which various wirings and pad portions 228 for supplying a gate signal, a data signal, and the like are formed in the display area DA.

In addition, a polarizer 232 may be formed on an outer surface of the display area DA of the second substrate 224.

The auxiliary area SA is an area in which an injection hole for liquid crystal injection is formed and includes a protrusion 230 extending from the main area MA.

That is, the injection holes of the first and second substrates 222 and 224 bonded to inject the liquid crystal are immersed in the liquid crystal material. In this case, the protrusion 230 has a flat side corresponding to the injection hole for a smooth liquid crystal injection process. .

Accordingly, the protruding portion 230 is disposed on the opposite side of the first flat side 230a and the first side 230a in the form of a straight line, and the second side 230b in the form of an arc in contact with the main area MA, and the first and second sides. It has flat third and fourth sides 230c and 230d in a curved form connecting the second sides 230a and 230b.

That is, the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d are formed to have a specific curvature, and the radius of curvature of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d may be determined in relation to the width of the first side 230a. have.

For example, as the first side 230a has a larger width, each of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d may have a larger radius of curvature.

As such, the reason for forming the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d of the protrusion 230 in a curved shape is to prevent the generation of processing residue in the scribing process.

That is, by forming the angle between the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d and the circumference of the main region MA to be as large as possible, the protrusions during the scribing process of the bonded first and second substrates 222 and 224. Defects such as chipping at the contacts of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d of the 230 and the main area MA may be prevented.

Meanwhile, the backlight unit 240 may include a light source and a plurality of optical sheets, and may be configured as a direct type or an edge type.

In addition, a fluorescent lamp or a light emitting diode may be used as the light source.

Although not shown, a circular band-shaped light blocking film may be disposed between the backlight unit 240 and the liquid crystal panel 220 to prevent light leakage through the edge of the display area DA.

The mold frame 260 may be combined with an upper frame (not shown) and a lower frame (not shown) to integrate the liquid crystal panel 220 and the backlight unit 240. The mold frame 260 may contact the encapsulant 226 of the injection hole and In order to prevent defects, the opening 262 may be formed to correspond to the encapsulant 226.

The mold frame 260 is bent in two stages corresponding to the first, third, and fourth sides 230a, 230c, and 230d of the protrusion 230, but completely contacts the protrusion 230. In order to prevent this, a chamfer 260a is formed on the inner surface.

That is, by removing the inner edges of the mold frame 260 corresponding to the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d of the protrusion 230 to form a chamfer 260a, the protrusion 230 (or its Process residue) and the mold frame 260 can be completely removed, and the cracks of the liquid crystal panel due to the contact of the protrusion 230 and the mold frame 260 can be prevented.

In fact, when the drop test is performed on the iron plate 1 m above the circular liquid crystal module 210 formed as described above, driving failure due to breakage of the thin film transistor of the liquid crystal panel 220 among the ten circular liquid crystal modules 210 is 1. No opening occurred, and the product reliability and yield of the circular liquid crystal module 210 were improved.

In the circular liquid crystal module 210, the width of the first side 230a of the protrusion 230 and the radius of curvature of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d may be directly proportional to each other. Design criteria of the panel 220 and the mold frame 260 may be determined in consideration of tolerances, etc., which will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating changes in curvature radii of third and fourth sides according to width changes of first sides of protrusions of a liquid crystal panel in the circular liquid crystal module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. do.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first side 230a of the protrusion 230 of the liquid crystal panel 220 of the circular liquid crystal module 210 may have first to fourth widths w1, w2, w3, and w4. In this case, the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d of the protrusion 230 may have first to fourth curvature radii R1, R2, R3, and R4, respectively.

For example, when the first side 230a has a first width w1 of about 5.5 mm, each of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d has a first radius of curvature R1 of about 5 mm. .

When the first side 230a has a second width w2 of about 6.2 mm, each of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d has a second radius of curvature R2 of about 6 mm.

In addition, when the first side 230a has a third width w3 of about 7.0 mm, each of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d has a third radius of curvature R3 of about 7 mm. When one side 230a has a fourth width w4 of about 7.5 mm, each of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d has a fourth radius of curvature R4 of about 8 mm.

If the radius of curvature is less than about 5 mm, the angle formed between the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d and the circumference of the main area MA is too small to cause defects such as chipping or processing residue in the scribing process. In addition, when the radius of curvature is larger than about 8 mm, the size of the protrusion 230 becomes too large, which hinders the liquid crystal panel 220 from having a shape close to a circle.

Thus, the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d have a radius of curvature in the range of about 5 mm to about 8 mm.

The design criteria of the liquid crystal panel 220 and the mold frame 260 may be determined in consideration of the above-described protruding portion 230 forming ability value and the liquid crystal panel 220 and the mold frame 260 forming tolerances.

That is, when the outer tolerance of the liquid crystal panel 220 and the inner surface tolerance of the mold frame are a and b, respectively, the cumulative tolerance c is obtained from the square root of the sum of squares of the two tolerances (SQRT (a ² + b ² )). , 1/2 (c / 2) of the cumulative tolerance can be set to the separation distance (d in FIG. 7) from the edge of the protrusion 230 to the start point of the chamfer 260a of the mold frame 260.

For example, when the outer tolerance of the liquid crystal panel 220 is about m 0.4 mm and the inner surface tolerance of the mold frame 260 is about m 0.05 mm, the cumulative tolerance is about 0.403 mm (= SQRT ((0.4) ² +). (0.05) ² ), the cumulative tolerance is applied to the protruding portion 230 forming ability value, so that the width of the first side 230a of the protruding portion 230 is set to about 5.5 mm, and the protrusion of the protruding portion 230 is The radius of curvature of each of the third and fourth sides 230c and 230d is set to about 5 mm, and the separation distance from the corner of the protrusion 230 to the start point of the chamfer 260a of the mold frame 260 (FIG. 7D). By setting to about 0.202mm (= 0.403 / 2) or more, it is possible to form a circular liquid crystal module 210 with improved reliability and yield.

As described above, in the circular liquid crystal module and the manufacturing method thereof according to the embodiment of the present invention, by forming the third and fourth sides of the projection connecting the first side and the main region corresponding to the injection hole in a curved form, In the scribing process of the liquid crystal panel, processing residues can be prevented and reliability and yield of the circular liquid crystal module can be improved.

In addition, by forming a chamfer (chamfer) on the inner surface of the mold frame corresponding to the protrusion, it is possible to prevent the contact of the mold frame and the liquid crystal panel to improve the reliability and yield of the circular liquid crystal module.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

210: circular liquid crystal module 220: liquid crystal panel
230: protrusion 240: backlight unit
260: mold frame

Claims (11)

A main region comprising an image display and a circular display area and a non-display area surrounding the display area, a first side in a straight line shape, and an arc shape disposed on an opposite side of the first side to contact the main area A liquid crystal panel including an auxiliary region comprising a second side of the protrusion and protrusions having third and fourth sides of a curved shape connecting the first and second sides;
A backlight unit for supplying light to the liquid crystal panel;
A mold frame surrounding and integrating the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit.
Circular liquid crystal module comprising a.
The method of claim 1,
The first side is a circular liquid crystal module corresponding to the injection hole for injecting the liquid crystal.
The method of claim 2,
Circular liquid crystal module in which the first side is formed with an encapsulant blocking the injection hole.
The method of claim 1,
The radius of curvature of each of the third and fourth sides is a circular liquid crystal module proportional to the width of the first side.
The method of claim 4, wherein
Each of the third and fourth sides is a circular liquid crystal module having a radius of curvature in a range of 5 mm to 8 mm.
The method of claim 1,
The mold frame has a circular liquid crystal module having an opening corresponding to the first side.
The method according to claim 6,
Circular liquid crystal module having a chamfer corresponding to the third and fourth sides is formed on the inner surface of the mold frame.
The method of claim 7, wherein
When the outer tolerance of the liquid crystal panel is a and the inner surface tolerance of the mold frame is b, the cumulative tolerance c is defined as the square root of the sum of the square of a and the square of b (c = SQRT (a ² + b ² )). And a separation distance (d) between an edge of the protrusion and a starting point of the chamfer of the mold frame is 1/2 of the cumulative tolerance (d = c / 2).
The method of claim 1,
The liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate on which a gate wiring, a data wiring, a thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode are formed, a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate, and formed of a black matrix, a color filter layer, and a common electrode, and the first substrate. And a liquid crystal layer formed between the second substrates.
Forming a gate wiring, a data wiring, a thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode on the first mother substrate;
Forming a black matrix, a color filter layer, and a common electrode on the second mother substrate;
Forming a seal pattern on one of the first and second mother substrates and bonding the first and second mother substrates together;
A main area comprising a display area having a circular shape and a non-display area surrounding the display area by cutting the bonded first and second mother substrates in cell units to display an image, and a first side having a straight shape And an auxiliary region including a second side of an arc shape disposed opposite to the first side and in contact with the main area, and a protrusion having a third and fourth sides of a curved shape connecting the first and second sides. Forming a bonded first and second substrates including;
Injecting liquid crystal between the bonded first and second substrates to complete a liquid crystal panel;
Disposing a backlight unit under the liquid crystal panel;
Integrating and enclosing the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit in a mold frame
Method of manufacturing a circular liquid crystal module comprising a.
The method of claim 10,
And injecting the liquid crystal to form an encapsulant on the first side.

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