KR20160034592A - Liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display device containing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display apparatus including the same. According to the present invention, the liquid crystal display panel includes: a first substrate having a pixel electrode region and a non-pixel electrode region; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode region and the non-pixel electrode region; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first alignment layer on the pixel electrode region has a first thickness, and the first alignment layer on the non-pixel electrode region has a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is thicker than the second thickness. The present invention can solve a problem of the disclination of liquid crystal molecules, thereby improving display quality of the liquid crystal display panel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display (LCD)

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device including the same, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display panel having an orientation layer of a new structure and a liquid crystal display device including the same.

In recent years, as display techniques have developed, all display devices have been developed to be bulky, thin and lightweight. Since liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are thinner flat display devices, conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays are increasingly being replaced by LCDs. In particular, LCDs can be applied to various fields. For example, everyday devices such as mobile phones, laptops, video cameras, cameras, music players, navigation devices, and televisions include liquid crystal display (LCD) panels.

Brightness, contrast, hue, and viewing angle are key variables related to the field effect of LCD panels. Along with the development of LCD devices, mainstreams for developing LCD panels are divided into twisted nematic (TN), vertical alignment (VA), and in-plane switching (IPS).

In the case of a VA type LCD panel, the orientation layer can facilitate the orientation of the injected liquid crystal molecules in order to attain the purpose of exhibiting darkness and brightness. However, the thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and the color filter (CF) substrate have a pattern, and a uniformly coated orientation layer causes a height (or height) difference on the surface of the orientation layer. This elevation difference may cause nonuniform rubbing of the alignment layer or monomer coagulation, and the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules can not be made sufficiently ideal.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a liquid crystal display panel without problems of non-uniform rubbing of the alignment layer or monomer aggregation in order to solve the disclination problem of the liquid crystal molecules and to improve the display quality of the liquid crystal display panel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal display device including the liquid crystal display panel, and solve the problem of the liquid crystal molecules being distorted, thereby improving the display quality of the liquid crystal display panel and the device including the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the above-described liquid crystal display panel.

In order to accomplish the above object, one aspect of the present invention is a semiconductor device comprising: a first substrate having a first surface; A second substrate facing the first substrate; A liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; A first orientation layer disposed on the first substrate and having a second surface and a third surface, the second surface facing the first substrate and the third surface adjacent the liquid crystal layer; And at least one spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Wherein the first substrate includes a first region, a second region, and a third region, the spacer being disposed to correspond to the first region, the second surface of the first orientation layer in the second region, The distance between the first surfaces of the substrate is smaller than that in the third region and the first alignment layer of each of the second region and the third region has a first thickness and a second thickness, Is greater than the second thickness.

Generally, several kinds of elements having different heights are stacked on the first substrate of the liquid crystal panel. In the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the distance between the second surface of the first alignment layer in the second region and the third region and the first surface of the first substrate (i.e., the distance between the first alignment layer and the first substrate ), The height difference of the third surface of the first orientation layer in the second region and the third region can be minimized by adjusting the thickness of the first orientation layer; Therefore, irregular rubbing or monomer flocculation of the alignment layer is prevented, and the display quality of the liquid crystal display panel can be improved. In particular, in the liquid crystal display panel according to the present invention, the distance between the third surface of the first alignment layer in the second region and the third region and the first surface of the first substrate is different, The difference in distance between the third regions can be greatly reduced by adjusting the thickness of the first orientation layer.

In the above aspect of the present invention, a pixel electrode may be disposed on a second region of the first substrate, and a data line and a scan line may be disposed on a third region of the first substrate, The first thickness of the alignment layer is greater than the second thickness of the first alignment layer over at least one of the data line and the scan line.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display comprising: a first substrate having a pixel electrode region and a non-pixel electrode region; A second substrate facing the first substrate; A first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode region and the non-pixel electrode region; And a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. Here, the first alignment layer on the pixel electrode region has a first thickness, the first alignment layer on the non-pixel electrode region has a second thickness, and the first thickness is larger than the second thickness.

More specifically, in the gist of the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the pixel electrode region includes an aperture region and a non-aperture region; Wherein the first thickness of the first alignment layer on the opening region of the pixel electrode region is greater than the second thickness of the first alignment layer on the non-pixel region.

In the gist of the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the pixel electrode region or an opening region thereof may include a pixel electrode, and the non-pixel electrode region may include a data line and a scan line. Here, the first thickness of the first alignment layer on the pixel electrode is larger than the second thickness of the first alignment layer on at least one of the data line and the scan line.

In general, the thickness of the data line and / or the scan line is larger than that of the pixel electrode in the liquid crystal display panel. Therefore, in the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention, the first thickness of the first alignment layer on the pixel electrode (particularly, the pixel electrode in the opening region of the pixel electrode region) is more than the second thickness on the data line and / The height difference between the surface of the first alignment layer on the pixel region and the data line and / or the scan line can be reduced. Therefore, problems of nonuniform rubbing or monomer aggregation of the alignment layer can be prevented, and the display quality of the liquid crystal display panel can be improved.

In addition,

Providing a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate has a first surface and includes a first region, a second region and a third region, and the second substrate is opposite the first substrate;

Forming a first alignment layer on the first substrate, wherein the first alignment layer has a second surface facing the first substrate, and a third surface, wherein the second surface of the first alignment layer in the second region And the first surface of the first substrate is less than that in the third region and the first thickness of the first orientation layer in the second region is greater than its second thickness in the third region; And

And a step of injecting a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. More specifically, a pixel electrode may be disposed on a second region of the first substrate to form a pixel electrode region, and a scan line and a data line may be disposed on a third region of the first substrate to form a non- And the first thickness of the first alignment layer on the pixel electrode in the opening region of the pixel electrode region is larger than the second thickness on at least one of the scan line and the data line in the non-pixel region. Also, at least one spacer may be disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, which corresponds to the first region of the first substrate.

In the method of the present invention, the orientation layer may be patterned to have a different thickness through the conventional patterning scheme used in the art. For example, an oriented layer can be produced by direct printing using a printing plate such as an APR plate having a specific microstructure patterned; An alignment layer having a uniform thickness is first formed, and then photolithography is performed thereon to form a patterned alignment layer; Or an alignment layer having a uniform thickness is first formed, printed before curing, and then cured to form a patterned alignment layer. However, the method used for producing the patterned alignment layer of the present invention is not limited to the above-described method.

In the liquid crystal display panel and the method of manufacturing the same of the present invention, the problem of the liquid crystal molecules being distorted can be solved if the first thickness (T1) of the first alignment layer is larger than the second thickness (T2) of the first alignment layer. Preferably, the ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness (T1 / T2) is in the range of 1 to 10 (1? T1 / T2? 10). More preferably, the ratio is in the range of 1 to 5 (1? T1 / T2? 5). Most preferably, the ratio is in the range of 2 to 4 (2? T1 / T2? 4). However, the ratio is not limited to the above-mentioned range, and the distance between the second surface of the first alignment layer and the first surface of the first substrate, for example, the pixel electrode, the data line, 1 < / RTI > substrate and the top surface.

The liquid crystal display panel and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention can be applied not only to a conventional liquid crystal display panel configured to have a thin film transistor substrate and a color filter substrate but also to a liquid crystal display panel configured to have a color filter on array (COA) structure have.

The liquid crystal display panel configured to have the COA structure may further include a color filter unit disposed between the first substrate and the first alignment layer on the first substrate. In addition, a second protective layer may be further disposed on the color filter unit. More particularly, the color filter unit, the second protective layer, the pixel electrode, and the first alignment layer are sequentially stacked on the first substrate. Further, a black matrix may be disposed on the second substrate, a second alignment layer is disposed on the second substrate, and the second alignment layer on the black matrix and the black matrix have a fourth thickness. Also, at least one spacer may be disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and corresponds to the black matrix. Preferably, the spacer is disposed on the second substrate. When the first substrate and the second substrate are assembled to each other, the spacer therebetween can provide a predetermined space for injection of liquid crystal molecules. When the spacer is disposed on the first substrate, the first orientation layer covers the spacer and has a third thickness, which is thinner than the first thickness and the second thickness. More preferably, the spacer is disposed on the second substrate, and the second alignment layer covers the spacer and has a third thickness less than the fourth thickness of the second alignment layer on the black matrix. On the other hand, the third thickness is also smaller than the first thickness and the second thickness. In some cases, the third thickness of the orientation layer on the spacer is close to 0 nm; That is, the third thickness is difficult to detect.

In the liquid crystal display panel and the method of manufacturing the same of the present invention, the thin film transistor unit and the first protective layer may also be disposed on the first substrate, wherein the thin film transistor unit includes a gate electrode, an insulating layer, ; Wherein the insulating layer covers the gate electrode, the semiconductor layer is disposed on the insulating layer, the source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the semiconductor layer and separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel region, 1 protective layer has an opening covering the thin film transistor unit and exposing a drain electrode, the pixel electrode being disposed on the first passivation layer and extending to the hole to be electrically connected to the drain electrode The first orientation layer in the hole has a fifth thickness, which is greater than the first thickness. Further, in the liquid crystal display panel configured to have the COA structure, the fifth thickness is larger than the first thickness and the second thickness. Here, the first protective layer on the first substrate covers not only the thin film transistor but also the data line and the scan line.

In the liquid crystal display panel and the method of manufacturing the same according to the present invention, the material for the alignment layer (including the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer) is not particularly limited and may be polyimide (PI), polyvinyl cinnamate (PVCN ), And polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), which are commonly used in the art; However, the present invention is not limited to these. Preferably, the material for the orientation layer of the present invention is PI.

In the liquid crystal display panel and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, not only the thickness of the orientation layer (including the first orientation layer and the second orientation layer) can be changed but also at least one protrusion, at least one hump or Combinations thereof may also be formed on the surface of the orientation layer. Preferably, the first substrate includes a display area and a non-display area, and the projections and protrusions described above are disposed on a first alignment layer corresponding to a non-display area of the first substrate. The second substrate may also include a display area and a non-display area, each of which corresponds to a display area and a non-display area of the first substrate; The above-mentioned projections and protrusions are also disposed on the second alignment layer corresponding to the non-display area of the second substrate. Preferably, the projections and protrusions described above are disposed on a periphery region of the first alignment layer and / or the second alignment layer. The arrangement of the protrusions and protrusions can increase the pressure applied by the alignment layer to the substrate (including the first substrate and the second substrate) and the adhesion between the alignment layer and the substrate. Additionally, the above arrangement can solve the problem of shrinkage of the orientation layer during overflow and curing process of the material for producing an orientation layer, and thus the shift of the orientation layer can be suppressed.

Here, in the first orientation layer and the second orientation layer, the material of the orientation layer is the same as the material of the protrusions and / or protrusions. Further, the projections or protrusions are integrated with the alignment layer. In the present invention, the alignment layer and the protrusions and / or protrusions can be formed simultaneously or individually using a transfer plate or a photomask having a specific structure corresponding to the protrusions and / or protrusions. Here, the term "protrusion " means a protruding unit having a height of more than 30 nm from the top of the alignment layer to the surface; The term " protrusion "also means having a height of less than 30 nm. Further, the projections of the present invention have a structure similar to a non-planar surface or ridges.

In the liquid crystal display panel and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, the viscosity of the orientation layer material is related to the degree of polymerization or type of the polymer used. For example, the orientation layer material has a higher viscosity as the degree of polymerization of the polymer used increases. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, an orientation layer can be formed using a high-viscosity material such as a polymer having a high molecular weight. In this case, at least one protrusion, at least one protrusion, or a combination thereof may be formed on the surface of the orientation layer; Preferably, both the protrusions and protrusions are formed on the surface of the alignment layer. When the projection is formed on the surface of the alignment layer, the ratio of the height of the projection relative to the thickness of the first alignment layer adjacent to the projection (more particularly, the height from the top of the projection to the surface of the alignment layer) to be. In another aspect of the present invention, an orientation layer can be formed using a material having a low viscosity such as a polymer having a small molecular weight. In this case, protrusions are formed on the surface of the orientation layer; In addition, the edge of the first orientation layer may also have a wave structure. Here, the term " wave structure "may include an arc shape, a zigzag shape, a curved shape, or a combination thereof.

In the liquid crystal display panel and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, the orientation layer (including the first orientation layer and the second orientation layer) may optionally include a plurality of particles, wherein the particles in the non- Is larger than the particles present. Here, the term "particles" includes nuclei, crystals, granules or agglomerates as long as a substantial amount of the particles formed in the orientation layer belong to the definition of the particles of the present invention. In particular, in some aspects of the present invention, not only can the protrusion be formed using a transfer plate or photomask having a specific microstructure, but also the protrusion may be formed due to agglomeration of a plurality of particles.

Further, in the liquid crystal display panel and the manufacturing method thereof of the present invention, a sealant is used to assemble the first substrate and the second substrate. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display panel of the present invention may also include a sealant disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and optionally also covering a part of the alignment layer. More particularly, the sealant selectively covers the peripheral region of the orientation layer. When the protrusions and / or protrusions are formed on the orientation layer, the sealant preferably covers a part of the protrusions and / or protrusions. The arrangement of the protrusions and / or protrusions can increase the contact area between the sealant and the orientation layer, and thus the problem of peeling of the sealant from the orientation layer can be improved.

The present invention also provides a backlight module comprising: a backlight module; And a liquid crystal display panel described above disposed on the backlight module.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a perspective view showing a first substrate and a structure formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 3A-3C are cross-sectional views illustrating a first substrate and structures formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second substrate and a structure formed thereon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a first orientation layer on a first substrate in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 6A-6D are cross-sectional views illustrating a first orientation layer in a non-display area according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 7A-7C are cross-sectional views illustrating a first orientation layer in a non-display region according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
8A is a perspective view showing a first orientation layer and a sealant in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8b is a perspective view showing a first orientation layer and a sealant in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a perspective view showing a first orientation layer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
10 is a perspective view showing a first orientation layer on a first substrate according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention; In addition
11 is a perspective view showing a liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and that the terminology used is for the purpose of description rather than limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

1 is a perspective view of a liquid crystal panel according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment of the present invention is a liquid crystal display panel configured to have a color filter on array (COA) structure and includes a first substrate 11, a second substrate 21, a plurality of spacers 3, 4 and a sealant 5. As shown in Fig. The first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21 are opposed to each other and the spacer 3 and the liquid crystal layer 4 are disposed between the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21, The first substrate (11) and the second substrate (21) are assembled to each other by the sealant (5). Detailed units disposed on the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21 are not shown in FIG. Hereinafter, units arranged on the first substrate 11 and the second substrate 21 and a method of manufacturing the same will be described below.

2 is a perspective view showing a structure formed thereon as a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate of a liquid crystal display panel of an embodiment of the present invention; 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A 'in Fig. 2, showing the structure formed on the first substrate and the first substrate. The TFT substrate includes a first substrate 11 and a scan line 12 formed thereon, a data line 13, a thin film transistor (TFT) unit 14, a pixel electrode 15, and a capacitor electrode 17 do. Here, the pixel unit is defined as having two adjacent scan lines 12 and two adjacent data lines 13, and includes a TFT unit 14, a pixel electrode 15, and a capacitor electrode 17 And the pixel electrode 15 is disposed between two adjacent scan lines 12 and two adjacent data lines 13. [ Here, the scan line 12, the data line 13, and the capacitor electrode 17 may be formed of a metal, an alloy, a metal oxide, a metal oxide, or other electrode material used in the art, ≪ / RTI >material; Preferably a metal.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A 'of FIG. 2, showing the structure formed on the first substrate and the first substrate. FIG. The TFT substrate of the embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate 11, a data line 13, a scan line (not shown in the figure) and a TFT unit 14, A line and a TFT unit 14 are disposed on the first substrate 11. The TFT unit 14 includes a gate electrode 141 disposed on the first substrate 11; An insulating layer 142 (also referred to as a gate insulating layer) covering the gate electrode 141 and the first substrate 11; A semiconductor layer (143) disposed on the insulating layer (142); And a source electrode 1441 and a drain electrode 1442 disposed on the semiconductor layer 143 and separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel region 1443. Here, the insulating layer 142 also covers the data line 13 and the scan line (not shown). In the embodiment of the present invention, the TFT unit 14 can be manufactured by a usual process generally used in the art, and therefore the process is not shown here. Also, the first substrate 11 may be a substrate commonly used in the art, such as a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a silicon substrate, and a ceramic substrate. In addition, the gate electrode 141 material may be a conductive material commonly used in the art, such as a metal, an alloy, a metal oxide, a metal oxide, or other electrode material used in the art; It is also preferably a metal. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The material of the insulating layer 142 may be an insulating material commonly used in the art such as SiN; The material of the semiconductor layer 143 is amorphous silicon, polysilicon; P13, DH4T, and pentacene, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

3A, after the data line 13, the scan line (not shown in the figure), and the TFT unit 14 are formed, a first passivation layer 145 is formed to form the data line 13, , A scan line (not shown in the figure), and the TFT unit 14; Next, the color filter units 221 and 222 are formed to cover the first passivation layer 145, wherein the adjacent color filter units 221 and 222 are formed to have different colors by the photoresist; Further, a second protective layer 146 is formed to cover the color filter units 221 and 222. A connecting opening 147 is then formed in the color filter units 221 and 222, the first passivation layer 145 and the second passivation layer 146 to expose the drain electrode 1442; The pixel electrode 15 is disposed on the second protective layer 146 and extends to the connection hole 147 to be electrically connected to the drain electrode 1442. Here, the material of the first passivation layer 145 and the second passivation layer 146 may be a material commonly used as a passivation material in the art, such as SiOx. In addition, the pixel electrode 15 may be a patterned electrode commonly used in the art, such as a dendrite-like electrode or a zigzag electrode; Further, the material thereof may be a transparent conductive material generally used in the art, such as a transparent conductive oxide including ITO or IZO.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 3A, the second passivation layer 146 and the pixel electrode 15 are coated with a photo-alignment monomer. After the photo-alignment monomer is cured, a first alignment layer 16 is formed. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first orientation layer 16 does not have a uniform thickness, and its thickness is adjusted according to the altitude of the unit under the first orientation layer 16. Therefore, the height difference of the upper surface of the first alignment layer 16 can be minimized. Here, a patterned alignment layer can be produced by direct printing using a printing plate such as an APR plate having a specific microstructure; An alignment layer having a uniform thickness is first formed, and then photolithography is performed thereon to form a patterned alignment layer; Or an alignment layer having a uniform thickness is first formed and printed so as to have a different thickness before curing, and then cured to form a patterned alignment layer. However, the method used for producing the patterned alignment layer of the present invention is not limited to the above-described method. After the above-described process, the TFT substrate of the embodiment of the present invention is completed. Hereinafter, the design of the first alignment layer 16 will be described in detail.

3A, a pixel electrode region Px and a non-pixel electrode region Px 'are formed on the first substrate 11, and the pixel electrode region Px is formed on the pixel electrode region Px, Pixel electrode region Px 'does not have the pixel electrode 15 and the data line 13 and the scan line (not shown in the figure) formed thereon correspond to the region having the pixel electrode 15 and the non-pixel electrode region Px' Lt; / RTI > More specifically, the pixel electrode region Px includes an opening region O and a non-opening region O ', wherein the opening region O is formed between the pixel electrode 15 (not overlapped with the TFT unit 14) , And the non-opening region O 'corresponds to a region in which the TFT unit 14 is disposed below the pixel electrode 15. [ The first alignment layer 16 on the pixel electrode region Px has a first thickness T1 and the non-pixel electrode region Px ' Has a second thickness (T2), and the first thickness (T1) is greater than the second thickness (T2). Preferably, the ratio T1 / T2 of the first thickness T1 to the second thickness T2 is in the range of 1 to 10 (1? T1 / T2? 10). More preferably, the ratio is in the range of 1 to 5 (1? T1 / T2? 5). Most preferably, the ratio is in the range of 2 to 4 (2? T1 / T2? 4). In an embodiment of the present invention, the first thickness T1 may range from 0.1 μm to 0.2 μm, and the second thickness T2 may range from 0.01 μm to 0.08 μm.

However, the thickness of the first alignment layer 16 may be increased as long as the height (or height) of the unit under the first alignment layer 16 increases and the thickness of the first alignment layer 16 is decreased The purpose of reducing the altitude difference of the upper surface of the first alignment layer 16 can be achieved. 3A, the first substrate 11 has a first surface 111 and the first alignment layer 16 has a second surface 165 (bottom surface) 2 surface 165 facing the first substrate 11 and a third surface 166 facing the liquid crystal layer 166. The second surface 165 faces the first substrate 11, (Not shown in the figure). The region O of the first substrate 11 on which the pixel electrode 15 is formed is defined as the second region R2 and the data line 13 is formed on the first substrate 11. [ Scan lines (not shown in the figure), and superimposed color filter units 221 and 222 formed thereon are defined as a third area R3. The second surface 165 of the first alignment layer 16 and the first surface 11 of the first substrate 11 in the second region R2 are formed on the basis of the first surface 1111 of the first substrate 11, The distance D1 between the second region R2 and the third region R3 is smaller than the distance D2 between the third region R3 and the first alignment layer 16 in the second region R2 and the third region R3, 1 thickness T1 and a second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1 is greater than the second thickness T2. Particularly, in the liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment of the present invention, the distance from the third surface 166 of the first alignment layer 16 in the second region R2 to the first surface 111 of the first substrate 11 The difference between the distance and that in the third region R3 can be significantly reduced.

Although only the second region R2 and the third region R3 are illustrated in FIG. 3A, the second region R2 and the third region R3 are not limited to the region illustrated in FIG. 3A, May be another region on the first substrate 11 as long as the distance D1 in the second region R2 is smaller than the distance D2 in the third region R3. In addition, although only the region containing the data lines is illustrated, the first alignment layer corresponding to the region containing the scan lines may have a thickness design similar to the region containing the data lines.

In addition, as shown in Fig. 3A, the first alignment layer 16 in the connection hole 147 has a fifth thickness T5. The second surface 165 of the first alignment layer 16 and the first surface 11 of the first substrate 11 in the connection hole 147 are formed on the basis of the first surface 1111 of the first substrate 11 111 is less than both of the distances D1 and D2 described above. Thus, in order to reduce the distance from the third surface 166 of the first alignment layer 16 to the first surface 111 of the first substrate 11, the fifth thickness T5 is less than the first thickness 111 T1) and the second thickness (T2).

3B, after the color filter units 221 and 222 are formed, a color filter hole 223 is formed first, and a second protective layer 146 is formed, A connection hole 147 is further formed in the first passivation layer 145 and the second passivation layer 146 to expose the drain electrode 1442. [ In another embodiment, only the color filter unit 221 is formed between the TFT unit 14, the data line 13, and the scan line (not shown in the figure) as shown in Fig. 3C, A second passivation layer 146 is directly formed on the TFT unit 14, the data line 13, and the scan line (not shown). In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3B and 3C, the first orientation layer 16 is designed to have a different thickness as described above, and thus the thickness of the first orientation layer 16 is not described here.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second substrate and a structure formed thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4, the black matrix 23, the third protective layer 24, the common electrode layer 25, the spacer 3 and the second alignment layer 26 are sequentially formed on the second substrate 21, Wherein the third protective layer 24 covers the black matrix 23 and the second substrate 21 and the common electrode layer 25 covers the third protective layer 24 and the common electrode layer 25, And the second alignment layer 26 is disposed on the spacer 3 and the black matrix 23, wherein the spacer 3 is disposed on the black matrix 23 and covers the spacer 3 corresponding to the black matrix 23, The arrangement of the matrix 23 and the spacer 3 corresponds to the TFT unit 14 shown in Figs. 3A to 3C. The third passivation layer 24 is made of the same material as the first passivation layer 145 and the second passivation layer 146 (as shown in FIG. 3A) on the first substrate 11 The substance is not listed here. In addition, the common electrode layer 25 of the embodiment of the present invention may be a planar electrode layer commonly used in the art, and the material may be a transparent conductive oxide such as ITO or IZO, Conductive material. Further, the second alignment layer 26 can be formed by the same method as the method of manufacturing the first alignment layer, and the manufacturing method thereof is not described herein. It should be noted that the second orientation layer 26 of the embodiment of the present invention may have a different thickness that is adjusted according to the height of the unit under the second orientation layer 26; Therefore, the height difference of the upper surface of the second alignment layer 26 can be minimized. Hereinafter, the design of the thickness of the second alignment layer 26 will be described in detail.

The second alignment layer 26 on the spacer 3 has a third thickness T3 and the second alignment layer on the black matrix 23 has a fourth thickness T4 as shown in FIG. And the orientation layer on the second substrate 221 has a sixth thickness T6 and the sixth thickness T6 is larger than the fourth thickness T4 and the fourth thickness T4, Is greater than the third thickness T3. The third thickness T3 is larger than the thickness of the first alignment layer 16 on the first substrate (as shown in FIG. 3A) when the thickness of the second alignment layer 26 is compared with the thickness of the first alignment layer 16 on the first substrate Px) and the non-pixel electrode region (Px ') are thinner than the thickness of the first alignment layer (16). In some embodiments, the third thickness T3 of the second orientation layer 26 on the spacer 3 is very thin and close to 0 nm; In other words, the third thickness is difficult to detect even with a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

In the embodiment of the present invention, the material of the alignment layer (including the first alignment layer 16 and the second alignment layer 26) is not particularly limited, and polyimide (PI), polyvinyl cinnamate (PVCN) and Such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > However, the materials are not limited thereto. Preferably, the orientation layer material of embodiments of the present invention is a PI having a high viscosity.

1, after the first substrate 11, the second substrate 21 and the units formed thereon are manufactured, the first substrate and the second substrate are assembled and sealed by a sealant 5, And liquid crystal molecules are injected thereinto to form a liquid crystal layer 4, thereby completing the liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment of the present invention. To improve adhesion between the sealant 5 and the first alignment layer 16 as well as the second alignment layer 26 (as shown in Figs. 1, 3A-3C and 4), the first orientation The periphery of the layer 16 and the second orientation layer 26 is designed to have a microstructure. Thereafter, the microstructure of the periphery of the first orientation layer 16 and the second orientation layer 26 is described in detail, wherein the periphery of the first orientation layer 16 and the periphery of the second orientation layer 26 are the same or different Can have different microstructures. Here, only the structure of the first alignment layer 16 is illustrated, and the structure of the second alignment layer 26 is not described below.

5 is a perspective view showing a first alignment layer on a first substrate of a liquid crystal display panel of an embodiment of the present invention. 5, in the liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment of the present invention, the first alignment layer 16 is disposed on the first substrate 11, and the periphery of the first alignment layer 16 The projection 161 and the plurality of projections 162 are also arranged on the P-axis. When the first substrate 11 is defined to have a display area D and a non-display area N, the protrusions 161 and the protrusions 162 are formed in the non-display area of the first substrate 11 N). The material of the first alignment layer 16 is the same as the material of the protrusions 161 and the protrusions 162 and the protrusions 161 and protrusions 162 are the same as the material of the protrusions 161 and the protrusions 162. In the embodiment of the present invention, Layer < / RTI > Here, the first alignment layer 16 and the protrusions 161 may be formed simultaneously using a transfer plate or a photomask having a pattern corresponding to the first alignment layer 16 and the protrusions 161; The projections 161 and the protrusions 162 using a transfer plate or a photomask having a pattern corresponding to the first alignment layer 16, the protrusions 161 and the protrusions 162. The first alignment layer 16, 162 can be formed at the same time. However, in other embodiments, the protrusions 162 may not be formed using a transfer plate or photomask having a pattern corresponding to the protrusions 162, and may be formed of particles (e.g., Nuclei, crystals, granules or agglomerates).

Figures 6A-6D are cross-sectional views along line B-B 'of Figure 5, showing the first orientation layer in the non-display area N; 6A, the ratio of the height H1 of the projection 161 to the thickness T of the first alignment layer 16 adjacent to the projection 161 (i.e., the ratio of the height H1 of the projection 161 to the thickness T of the first alignment layer 16 adjacent to the projection 161) The distance between the upper surface of the protrusion 161 and the surface 163 of the substrate 163 is in the range of 2 to 10. Here, the height H1 may range from 150 nm to 300 nm, and the thickness T may range from 10 nm to 100 nm. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, as long as the protrusions 161 have a certain height with respect to the first alignment layer 16 so that the pressure applied by the periphery of the alignment layer to the substrate and the adhesion between the alignment layer and the substrate are increased. But is not limited to one range. Additionally, the arrangement can also solve the problem of shrinkage of the orientation layer during overflow and curing processes of the material for producing orientation layer, and thus the variation of the orientation layer can be suppressed. A plurality of protrusions 162 may be further disposed beside the protrusions 161 of the first alignment layer 16 and the height H2 may be in a range of 5 nm to 30 nm. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, the projection 161 shown in FIG. 6A has a side surface perpendicular to the surface 163 of the first alignment layer 16. In another embodiment, both sides of the projection 161 may be inclined (as shown in Figure 6B); The projection 16 may be in an arc shape (as shown in Fig. 6C); Or one side of the protrusion 161 is perpendicular to the surface 163 of the first alignment layer 16 and the other side thereof is a sloped surface (as shown in FIG. 6D). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In addition, although all of the protrusions shown in Figs. 6A-6D have a flat surface, the protrusions 161 may have a structure similar to a non-planar surface or a ridge in some embodiments.

Figures 7A-7C are cross-sectional views along line C-C 'of Figure 5, showing the first orientation layer in the non-display area N; In general, a circuit is formed in the non-display area N of the liquid crystal display panel, and the first alignment layer 16 can also be arranged on the circuit 6. [

After the liquid crystal display panel of the embodiment of the present invention is sealed by the sealant 5, the relative position between the protrusion 161 of the first alignment layer 16 and the sealant 5 is shown in Fig. . The encapsulant 5 covers the protrusions 161 and increases the contact area between the encapsulant 5 and the first alignment layer 16 so that the encapsulant 5 and the first alignment layer 16, Can be prevented. 8A, the edge of the first substrate 11 protrudes from the encapsulant 5. As shown in Fig.

However, in another embodiment of the present invention, the edge of the substrate 11 is substantially aligned with the edge of the sealant 5 as shown in Fig. 8B. Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, the material for preparing the orientation layer is a low viscosity PI. Therefore, although the protrusion 161 shown in FIG. 8A can not be formed, the periphery of the first orientation layer 16 is formed in a curved structure like the wave structure shown in FIG.

A first orientation layer having protrusions 161 and protrusions 162 formed thereon and a first orientation layer 162 having protrusions 162 formed thereon and having a wave structure as shown in Figure 10, A plurality of particles 164 may be formed in the first alignment layer 16. These particles 164 may be nuclei, crystals, granules or aggregates produced during the curing process as shown in Fig. In particular, the size of the particles 164 in the non-display area N is greater than the size of the particles 164 in the display area D. Further, in another embodiment, the particles 164 are present only in the non-display area N and not in the display area D; Or no particles are formed on the first alignment layer 16.

It should be noted that only the first alignment layer 16 is illustrated on Figs. 5 to 9 on the first substrate 11. However, those skilled in the art will understand that other units (such as TFT units) between the first substrate 11 and the first alignment layer 16 are not shown here.

In addition, the liquid crystal display panel of the above-described embodiment can also be applied to the liquid crystal display device 7 as shown in Fig. Here, the liquid crystal display device 7 includes a backlight module; And the above-described liquid crystal display panel (not shown in the figure) disposed on the backlight module. Here, only the liquid crystal display device is exemplified, and other display devices such as a mobile phone, a notebook, a camera, a video camera, a music player, a navigation system, or a television may also have a liquid crystal display panel of the above-described embodiment.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it should be understood that many other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

11: first substrate 21: second substrate
3: a plurality of spacers 4: liquid crystal layer 5:

Claims (15)

A first substrate on which a pixel electrode region and a non-pixel electrode region are formed;
A second substrate facing the first substrate;
A first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode region and the non-pixel electrode region; And
And a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate,
The first alignment layer on the pixel electrode region has a first thickness, the first alignment layer on the non-pixel electrode region has a second thickness, and the first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode region includes a pixel electrode, the non-pixel electrode region includes a data line and a scan line, the first alignment layer on the pixel electrode has a first thickness, Wherein the first alignment layer on at least one of the line and the scan line has a second thickness. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer comprises a plurality of particles. The display of claim 1, wherein the first substrate comprises a display area and a non-display area, wherein at least one projection, at least one projection or a combination thereof is disposed on a first orientation layer of the non- Liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 4, wherein the material of the first alignment layer is the same as the material of the protrusions or protrusions. 5. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 4, wherein the protrusions or protrusions are integrated with the first alignment layer. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the height of the projection to the thickness of the first alignment layer adjacent to the projection is in the range of 2 to 10. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the first alignment layer has a wave structure. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, further comprising a sealant disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to cover a part of the first alignment layer. 5. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 4, further comprising a sealant disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to cover a part of the protrusion, the protrusion or a combination thereof. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness ranges from 1 to 10. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, further comprising a color filter unit disposed on the first substrate and between the first substrate and the first alignment layer. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one spacer, a black matrix, and a second alignment layer,
Wherein the black matrix is disposed on the second substrate and the spacer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and corresponds to the black matrix and the second alignment layer is disposed between the second substrate, Wherein the second alignment layer on the spacer has a third thickness, the second alignment layer on the black matrix has a fourth thickness, and the third thickness is thinner than the fourth thickness. 3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein the thin film transistor unit and the first protective layer are further disposed on the first substrate,
Wherein the thin film transistor unit includes a gate electrode, an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode,
Wherein the insulating layer covers the gate electrode, the semiconductor layer is disposed on the insulating layer, the source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the semiconductor layer and separated by a predetermined distance to form a channel region, Wherein the protective layer has a hole covering the thin film transistor unit and exposing the drain electrode, the pixel electrode being disposed over the first passivation layer and extending to the hole to be electrically connected to the drain electrode, Wherein the orientation layer has a fifth thickness greater than the first thickness. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel is applied to a cellular phone, a notebook, a camera, a video camera, a music player, a navigation system or a television.

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