KR20170060463A

KR20170060463A - Liquid crystal display device

Info

Publication number: KR20170060463A
Application number: KR1020150164940A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박해준; 정훈; 이명식; 문태형; 황상수; 김민수; 한홍규; 오승택; 남궁훈
Original assignee: 엘지디스플레이 주식회사
Priority date: 2015-11-24
Filing date: 2015-11-24
Publication date: 2017-06-01

Abstract

This specification discloses a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates having an opening region and a light shielding region defined by a black matrix; A first spacer disposed on one of the pair of substrates and disposed in the shielding region; And a first bumper in a plane different from the substrate on which the first spacer is provided and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first spacer on a plane and corresponding to the first spacer so as to maintain an interval between the pair of substrates do.

Description

[0001] LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE [0002]

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a structure thereof.

The liquid crystal display device is characterized in that it has a large contrast ratio, is suitable for moving picture display, and has low power consumption, and is used in various fields such as a notebook computer, a monitor, and a TV. Liquid crystals are thin and long in molecular structure, have optical anisotropy, which has directionality in arrangement, and polarizing properties, in which the direction of molecular arrangement is changed according to their size when placed in an electric field. Liquid crystal displays use optical anisotropy and polarizability of liquid crystal, Lt; / RTI >

In general, a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal layers are interposed between two opposing substrates, electrodes are formed on the inner surfaces of the two substrates, and the alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules is Thereby causing a difference in light transmittance. The transmittance difference due to the liquid crystal arrangement is reflected in the color combination realized while the light supplied from the backlight passes through the color filter, and is displayed in the form of a color image. Pixels of the liquid crystal display device are arranged in a matrix form, and a column spacer is arranged between the two substrates to maintain a cell gap.

The column spacer is disposed between the pixel and the pixel in a region corresponding to a black matrix. The column spacer is moved to some extent by an external force. At this time, an alignment film or other component scratters on the column spacer to cause a foreign matter and a bright spot to occur.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device. More specifically, the present invention aims to provide a structure and a shape of spacers disposed between upper and lower substrates of a liquid crystal display device. It is also an object of the present invention to reduce defects caused by movement of the spacers.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates having an opening region and a light shielding region defined by a black matrix; A first spacer disposed on one of the pair of substrates and disposed in the shielding region; And a first bumper in a plane different from the substrate on which the first spacer is provided and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first spacer on a plane and corresponding to the first spacer so as to maintain an interval between the pair of substrates can do.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal display is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes a TFT array substrate having an alignment film; A color filter substrate having a black matrix; And a structure corresponding to the black matrix between the TFT array substrate and the color filter substrate, the structure being adapted to prevent a defective spot due to scratching of the alignment layer, wherein when the external force is applied to the structure, So that foreign matter due to scratching of the alignment film exists only in the region where the alignment film is formed.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device in which the flow of a spacer due to an external force is suppressed. As such, the embodiments herein have the advantage that defects in defects generated by the flow of spacers can be minimized.

1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a plan view showing a part of a display area of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A2 and a cross-sectional view taken along the line B1-B2 shown in Fig.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD), and more particularly,

In describing the components of the present invention, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like can be used. These terms are intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the terms do not limit the nature, order, order, or number of the components. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected or connected to the other component, Quot; intervening "or that each component may be" connected, "" coupled, "or " connected" through other components. An element or layer is referred to as being another element or layer "on ", including both intervening layers or other elements directly on or in between. The sizes and thicknesses of the respective components shown in the drawings are shown for convenience of explanation and the present invention is not limited to the sizes and thicknesses of the components shown.

It is to be understood that each of the features of the various embodiments of the present invention may be combined or combined with each other partially or totally and may be technically variously interlocked and driven by those skilled in the art and each embodiment may be implemented independently of one another, .

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A liquid crystal display device will be described as an example of the display device. The liquid crystal display device 10 may include a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) array substrate and a color filter substrate. A liquid crystal layer is interposed between the TFT array substrate and the color filter substrate.

In some of the regions where the TFT array substrate 100 and the color filter substrate 200 are bonded together, there is a display area (active area, A / A) in which image display is performed. An array of pixels is disposed in the display area. At least one non-display area (I / A) may be disposed around the display area. That is, the non-display area I / A may be adjacent to one or more sides of the display area A / A. In Fig. 1, the non-display area surrounds a rectangular display area. However, the shape of the display region and the shape and / or arrangement of the non-display region adjacent to the display region are not limited to the example shown in Fig. The display area and the non-display area may be in a form suitable for the design of the electronic device on which the display device 10 is mounted. Illustrative forms of the display area are pentagonal, hexagonal, circular, oval, and the like.

A non-display area I / A exists outside the display area A / A. In the non-display area I / A, an interface part, a plurality of wirings, and the like are located. In the interface part, a plurality of connection interfaces (pad, pin, etc.) connected to wirings extending to the display area are located.

Each pixel in the display area may be associated with a pixel circuit. The pixel circuit may include one or more transistors. Each pixel circuit may be electrically connected to a gate line and a data line to communicate with one or more driving circuits such as a gate driver and a data driver located in the non-display area.

The driving circuit may be implemented as a thin film transistor (TFT) in the non-display region. This driving circuit may be referred to as a gate-in-panel (GIP). In addition, some components, such as a data driver IC, are mounted on a separate printed circuit board, and circuit films such as flexible printed circuit boards (FPCB), chip-on-film (COF), tape- (Pads, pins, etc.) disposed in the non-display area. The printed circuit (COF, PCB, etc.) may be located behind the display device 10.

The display device 10 may include various additional elements for generating various signals or driving pixels in the display area. An additional element for driving the pixel may include an inverter circuit, a multiplexer, an electrostatic discharge circuit, and the like. The display device 10 may also include additional elements associated with functions other than pixel driving. For example, the display device 10 may include additional elements for providing a touch sensing function, a user authentication function (e.g., fingerprint recognition), a multi-level pressure sensing function, a tactile feedback function, and the like. The above-mentioned additional elements may be located in the non-display area and / or an external circuit connected to the connection interface.

Red, blue, and green color filters are arranged on the color filter substrate corresponding to the display area.

The TFT array and the color filter on the substrate are implemented through processes such as thin film deposition, photo-lithography, etching, and the like. Thereafter, a seal pattern for attaching to one of the TFT array substrate and the color filter substrate is formed, and the two substrates are bonded to each other with the liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween to make a liquid crystal panel. After the polarizing plate, the driving circuit, and the like are attached, the completed liquid crystal panel is integrated with the backlight unit to form a liquid crystal display device.

At this time, as the sealant 300 for attaching the color filter substrate and the TFT array substrate together, a thermosetting resin which is cured by heating or an ultraviolet ray curable resin which is cured by ultraviolet ray can be used. The UV-curable resin may include a photoinitiator, a monomer containing an ultraviolet (UV) curing agent, a glass fiber for holding a cell gap, and the like. When a sealant is applied to the edge of one of the two substrates and ultraviolet rays are irradiated through a mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp while liquid crystal is injected between both substrates, As the sealant is cured, both substrates are bonded together.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of a display area of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A2 and line B1-B2 shown in FIG.

2 and 3 show a part of pixels of the liquid crystal display device and a part of a plurality of spacers. 2 and 3, the liquid crystal display includes a first substrate 100 (a TFT array substrate), a second substrate 200 (a color filter substrate), a first substrate 100 and a second substrate 200, A thin film transistor 110, a planarization layer 120, a common electrode 130, a black matrix 210, a color layer 220, and column spacers 250 and 260 formed therebetween. 2 and 3, only some of the components of the liquid crystal display 10 are shown for convenience of explanation.

The first substrate 100 may be a TFT array substrate, and may be formed of an insulating material such as silicon (Si), glass, transparent plastic, or a polymer film. However, the first substrate 100 is not limited to the above-described insulating material, and a plurality of layers formed thereon and a material capable of supporting the element are sufficient. A plurality of pixels (pixels or subpixels) and elements (transistors, capacitors, etc.) for driving the pixels are arranged on the first substrate 100. The pixel region can be defined as a region formed by intersection of the gate line GL and the data line DL that transmit signals to the driving elements. On the first substrate 100, there are an aperture area where light is transmitted and an image is displayed, and a shielding area where light is not transmitted.

A plurality of pixel regions are defined on the first substrate 100. In each pixel region, a thin film transistor (TFT) 110 is formed as a switching element. The thin film transistor 110 is arranged corresponding to each of the sub-pixels R, G and B. The thin film transistor 110 includes a gate electrode, an active layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, and an active layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode becomes a channel of the thin film transistor 110. The gate electrode, the source electrode and the drain electrode may be formed of a metal material having a low resistance property such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), chrome (Cr), gold (Au) Nickel, nickel (Ni), neodymium (Nd), or alloys thereof. The active layer may include an amorphous silicon film, a polycrystalline silicon film obtained by crystallizing amorphous silicon, an oxide semiconductor, an organic semiconductor, or the like.

When the thin film transistor 110 is in a staggered structure, a gate electrode electrically connected to the gate line is disposed on the first substrate 100, and a gate insulating layer is covered on the gate electrode. There is an active layer on which a channel is formed on the gate insulating layer. A drain electrode electrically connected to the data line and a source electrode electrically connected to the pixel electrode are disposed on the active layer.

When the thin film transistor 110 is a coplanar structure, an active layer is formed on the substrate. At this time, a buffer layer may be further disposed between the substrate 100 and the active layer. The buffer layer can protect the thin film transistor from impurities such as alkali ions flowing out from the substrate 100. A gate insulating layer made of a silicon nitride film (SiNx), a silicon oxide film (SiO2) or the like is formed on the active layer. A gate insulating layer may be formed in the display region and the pad region. That is, the gate insulating layer may be formed on the entire surface of the substrate 100 on which the active layer is formed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. A gate electrode is located on the gate insulating layer. The gate electrode may be formed to overlap the active layer in the display region. On the other hand, the gate electrode and the gate line can be formed integrally. An inter insulation layer made of a silicon nitride film, a silicon oxide film, or the like is disposed on the gate electrode. Source / drain electrodes are formed on the interlayer insulating film. At this time, the interlayer insulating film may include a plurality of contact holes. The source electrode and the drain electrode are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance and electrically connected to the active layer. More specifically, the gate insulating layer and the interlayer insulating film have a semiconductor layer contact hole exposing the active layer, and the source / drain electrode is electrically connected to the active layer through the semiconductor layer contact hole.

The planarization layer 120 is positioned to cover the thin film transistor 110. The planarization layer 120 flattens the top of the thin film transistor 110. The planarization layer 120 is formed on the entire surface of the first substrate 100 with an organic insulating material having a low dielectric constant such as photo acrylic. The planarization layer 120 eliminates a step on the surface of the first substrate 100 due to the thin film transistor 110.

The common electrode 130 for supplying the common voltage Vcom to the pixel is located on the planarization layer 120. [ The common electrode 130 may be formed in a single pattern in an area except for a region where a contact hole for electrically connecting to the source electrode of the thin film transistor 110 exists. The common electrode 130 may be electrically connected to a common line arranged in parallel with the gate line through a separate contact hole. The common electrode 130 may be formed of a transparent conductive material such as ITO (indium tin oxide) or IZO (indium zinc oxide). The common electrode 130 may be formed on the entire surface of the first substrate 100.

The protective film 150 covers the common electrode 130. The protective layer 150 may be formed of an inorganic material such as silicon oxide (SiO2) or silicon nitride (SiNx). In addition, the protective layer 150 may be formed of an organic material as well as an inorganic material. The protection layer 150 protects the common electrode 130 and flattens the upper portion of the common electrode 130. The passivation layer 150 may be formed of the same material as the planarization layer 120 or may be formed of an insulating material different from the planarization layer 120.

The pixel electrode is located on the protective film 150. The pixel electrode is an electrode for driving the liquid crystal, and may be formed in a box shape in each pixel, and may have a plurality of slits on the passivation layer 150. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor 110. The pixel electrode may have a shape in which the central portion is bent at least once. The pixel electrode and the common electrode 130 may be formed of a transparent conductive material. The common electrode 130 may be located above the pixel electrode, and the pixel electrode and the common electrode 130 may be located on the same layer.

Protruding structures 171 and 172 protruding in the direction of the color filter substrate 200 are positioned in an area overlapping the thin film transistor 110 on the protective film 150. The protruding structure may be referred to as a bumper, a stopper, a holder, or the like. The protruding structure (hereinafter referred to as a bumper) restricts the movement of the column spacers 250 and 260. The bumpers 171 and 172 may have a circular shape or a bar-shaped cross-section. In Fig. 3, the bumpers 171 and 172 having a bar-shaped cross section extend in the same direction as the gate line, and are located over the blue pixel and the red pixel.

A first alignment layer 160 is positioned on the protective film 150 and the bumpers 171 and 172. The first alignment layer 160 may be formed of polyimide (PI) to control the alignment direction of the liquid crystal.

The second substrate 200 is a color filter substrate, and is opposed to the first substrate 100. The second substrate 200 includes a black matrix 210, a red R, a green G, a blue B color filter 220, an overcoat layer 230, column spacers 250 and 260, An orientation film 240, and the like. The black matrix 210 is formed to correspond to the light shielding region and the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters 220 are arranged to correspond to the opening regions.

The black matrix 210 corresponds to the boundary of each pixel region to prevent light spots, and is made of an opaque material. The black matrix 210 may be formed so as to overlap with the thin film transistor 110 formed on the first substrate 100 so as to minimize shrinking of the aperture region of the pixel. In the area corresponding to the black matrix 210, various driving elements and wiring such as the thin film transistor 110, the data line, the gate line and the like are positioned. In the area (opening area) not corresponding to the black matrix 210, And the common electrode are located.

The color filter 220 is formed by selectively applying and removing red, green, and blue color pigments using a mask to display a color image.

The overcoat layer 230 covers the black matrix 210 and the color filter 220. The overcoat layer 230 is made of an insulating material, as a layer for planarizing the top of the black matrix 210, red, green, and blue color filters. The overcoat layer 230 may be formed of the same material as the planarization layer 120.

A step is formed on the surface of the first substrate 100 along the profile of the bumpers 171 and 172. Column spacer arrays 250 and 260 are positioned on the second substrate 200 to correspond to the bumpers 171 and 172. The column spacer includes a first spacer (gap spacer) 250 that maintains a cell gap between the two substrates 100 and 200 and a first gap spacer 250 between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200, and a second spacer (push spacer) 260 for forming a gap.

A second alignment layer 240 covers the column spacers 250 and 260. The second alignment layer 240 may be formed of polyimide (PI).

Each of the column spacers may have a circle shape or a bar shape in cross section. Also, the outer shape of each of the column spacers 250 and 260 may be a tapered shape. For example, the gap spacer 250 in contact with the overcoat layer 230 may have a tapered shape with a width of 16 mu m at the upper end and a width of 12 mu m at the lower end.

The upper and lower ends of the push spacers may be formed to have the same width as the gap spacers. Alternatively, the widths of the upper and lower ends of the push spacers 260 may be formed wider or narrower than the gap spacers 250. The gap spacers 250 and the push spacers 260 may be simultaneously formed with a single mask process using a half tone mask.

The gap spacer 250 and the push spacer 260 overlap with the bumpers 171 and 172 of the first substrate 100 and the black matrix 210 of the second substrate 200 (in the vertical direction). The surface of the first substrate 100 protrudes along the profile of the bumpers 171 and 172 formed on the first substrate 100. [ A gap spacer 250 is formed in a region corresponding to the bumper 171 to maintain a cell gap between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200. At this time, the cell gap between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 may be 3.0-3. Here, the width of the upper end of the gap spacer 250 may be smaller than the width of the bumper 171. That is, the bumper 171 may have a width wider than the gap spacer 250.

The push spacers 260 may be formed at a lower height than the gap spacers 250. The surface of the first substrate 100 protrudes along the profile of the bumper 172 formed on the first substrate 100. [ A push spacer 260 is formed in a region corresponding to the bumper 172 to create a pressing gap between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200. At this time, the upper end width of the push spacer 260 may be smaller than the width of the bumper 172. That is, the bumper 172 may have a wider width than the push spacer 260.

The gap spacer 250 and the push spacer 260 may be disposed corresponding to a shielding area between the blue pixel and the red pixel. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the gap spacer 250 and the push spacer 260 may be disposed corresponding to the light shielding region between the red pixel and the green pixel.

A predetermined pressing interval (for example, 5,000 to 6,000 ANGSTROM) is formed between the push spacer 260 and the bumper 172 and the liquid crystal panel is prevented from being broken when an external force is applied to the second substrate 200 .

The gap spacer 250 and the push spacer 260 are separated from the first alignment layer 160 of the display area by the bumpers 171 and 172 even if the gap spacer 250 and the push spacer 260 are moved left and right by an external force. It is not contacted. As a result, the first alignment layer 160 of the display area and the gap spacer 250 and / or the push spacer 260 are brought into contact with each other to cause damage to the first substrate (the orientation of the first alignment layer 160 is distorted, (I.e., scratches are generated on the substrate 160). Further, when the push spacer 260 is pressed by the external force, the friction is increased by the bumper 172, thereby reducing the left-right flow of the gap spacer 250 and the push spacer 260.

4 is a plan view showing a spacer of a liquid crystal display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The liquid crystal display may comprise a pair of substrates (a first substrate and a second substrate). Here, the first substrate may be a TFT array substrate, and the second substrate may be a color filter substrate. Pixel elements are provided in the display area A / A of the first substrate. The display region of the second substrate is provided with a color filter for realizing color and a black matrix for preventing color mixing. A non-display area I / A is provided outside the display area, and wirings extending to the display area and a plurality of connection interfaces (pad, pin, etc.) are disposed in the non-display area I / A.

The pair of substrates may be divided into an opening region and a light shielding region by the black matrix 210. The aperture region is a region where light (color) is emitted to the outside of the display device, and the light shielding region is an area where light (color) is not emitted to the outside. Therefore, circuit elements, wirings (gate lines, data lines) and the like are placed below the light shielding regions.

The black matrix 210 may extend in two directions intersecting each other (e.g., horizontal / vertical). In this case, the width in one direction (e.g., the horizontal direction) may be wider than the width in another direction (e.g., the vertical direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the width of the black matrix 210 in the horizontal direction (the extending direction of the gate line) may be wider than the width in the vertical direction (extending direction of the data line).

The column spacers 250 and 260 are on any one of the pair of substrates and are disposed in a light shielding region between the pixel and the pixel. The column spacers 250 and 260 may be disposed between all the pixels, but are generally arranged intermittently along a specific direction. The column spacer (250, 260) includes a first column spacer (250) and a second column spacer (260).

The bumpers 171 and 172 are positioned corresponding to the column spacers 250 and 260 in the light shielding region of the substrate on which the column spacers 250 and 260 are provided and the light shielding regions of the other substrates, Limit. The bumper includes a first bumper 171 and a second bumper 172 corresponding to the first column spacer 250 and the second column spacer 260. 3, the first bumper 171 is provided to correspond to the first spacer 250 to maintain a cell gap between the pair of substrates, and the second bumper 172 Is provided so as to maintain a push gap in correspondence with the second spacers 260.

The bumper (171, 172) and the column spacer (250, 260) extend in a plane intersecting each other. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the bumpers 171 and 172 all extend in the lateral direction (the extending direction of the gate line), and the column spacers 250 and 260 extend in the longitudinal direction (extending direction of the data line). The bumper (171, 172) and the column spacer (250, 260) cross each other at right angles.

The lower parts of the bumpers 171 and 172 are layers made of an inorganic material such as silicon nitride (SiNx), and the lower parts of the column spacers 250 and 260 are layers made of organic materials such as photoacryl. In this case, since the layer of organic material is relatively tapered, the column spacer is bent into an arch shape when the bumper and the column spacer are pressed. Accordingly, the column spacer may bend in the longitudinal direction with a narrow width of the black matrix 210, and the alignment film may be scratched and particles may be generated. Such foreign matter may also diffuse to the opening region in the same direction (longitudinal direction). Therefore, defective luminescence due to the foreign matter may appear in the pixel. In many cases, defective spot defects appear in a specific region.

Recognizing the above problem, the inventors invented a structure capable of minimizing the defective spot by adjusting the arrangement of the spacer and the bumper.

5 is a plan view showing a spacer of a liquid crystal display device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The liquid crystal display may comprise a pair of substrates. Here, the first substrate may be a TFT array substrate, and the second substrate may be a color filter substrate. Pixel elements are provided on the first substrate. A color filter and a black matrix are provided on the second substrate. Here, the first substrate (TFT array substrate) may also refer to a support substrate and an assembly of elements arranged thereon. The second substrate (color filter substrate) may also refer to a support substrate and an assembly of elements arranged thereon.

The pair of substrates may be defined as an opening region and a light shielding region by the black matrix. The aperture region is a region where light (color) is emitted to the outside of the display device, and the light shielding region is an area where light (color) is not emitted to the outside. Therefore, circuit elements, wirings (gate lines, data lines), column spacers, bumps, and the like are placed below the light shielding regions.

The black matrix 210 may extend in two directions intersecting each other (e.g., horizontal / vertical). In this case, the width in one direction (e.g., the horizontal direction) may be wider than the width in another direction (e.g., the vertical direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the width of the black matrix 210 in the lateral direction (extending direction of the gate line) may be wider than the width in the longitudinal direction (extending direction of the data line).

A structure is provided between the first substrate (TFT array substrate) and the second substrate (color filter substrate) so as to prevent defective defects due to scratching of the alignment film, corresponding to the black matrix. The structure is provided such that, when an external force is applied to the liquid crystal display device, particles due to scratching of the alignment film exist only in a region corresponding to the black matrix (light shielding region).

An alignment layer is placed on the column spacer and the bumper. The alignment layer may be formed of polyimide to control the alignment direction of the liquid crystal.

The structure includes a column spacer array including a first column spacer (250) having a first height and a second column spacer (260) having a second height less than the first height; (250) and the second column spacer (260), and at least one of the first column spacer (250) and the second column spacer (260) is limited in correspondence with at least one of the first column spacer And bumpers 171 and 172, respectively. At this time, at least a portion of the alignment film surrounding the first spacer 250 and the first bumper 171 is in contact with each other, and the second spacer 260 and the second bumper 172 are positioned at a predetermined distance (push gap) Can be spaced apart.

The column spacer array is on any one of the pair of substrates, and is arranged in a light shielding region between pixels and pixels. The column spacer array may be disposed between all the pixels, or may be arranged intermittently along a specific direction. The column spacer array includes a first column spacer 250 (gap spacer) and a second column spacer 260 (push spacer).

As an example of the arrangement for preventing defective spot defects, the first column spacer 250 has a length extending in a first direction (for example, in the extending direction of the gate line), and the first bumper 171 has the first And extends in a second direction (e.g., the extending direction of the data line) intersecting with the direction of the data line. At this time, the width of the black matrix in the first direction is larger than the width of the second direction. That is, the first column spacer 250 is long in a direction in which the black matrix extends with a relatively wider width, and the first bumper 171 is elongated in the direction in which the black matrix extends with a relatively narrower width Is set.

The bumper 171 and 172 have an upper surface adjacent the distal end of the column spacers 250 and 260 and the upper surface is in contact with the movement of the column spacers 250 and 260 Which scrapes the alignment film (surrounding the column spacer and the bumper) and generates foreign matter. However, when the arrangement of the bumpers and the spacer described above is applied, since the foreign object is generated at the right and left ends of the first column spacer 250 and diffused in the lateral direction (first direction) of FIG. 5, It is covered by a relatively large portion. As a result, since the foreign matter does not diffuse to the visible portion (opening region), the defective spot due to the foreign matter hardly appears.

The first spacers 250 may extend in the same direction as the portion of the black matrix 210 that has a relatively wider width (e.g., the same direction as the gate wiring). On the other hand, the second column spacer 260 may extend in the same direction as the portion of the black matrix 210 that has a relatively narrower width (e.g., the same direction as the data line). That is, the first spacer 250 and the second spacer 260 may extend in different (vertical) directions.

The bumpers 171 and 172 are positioned in correspondence with the column spacers 250 and 260 in the light shielding region of the substrate on which the column spacer is provided and are in contact with the column spacer to limit the flow of the spacers 250 and 260 due to external force. do. The bumper includes a first bumper 171 and a second bumper 172 corresponding to the first column spacer 250 and the second column spacer 260. 3, the first bumper 171 is provided to correspond to the first spacer 250 to maintain a cell gap between the pair of substrates, and the second bumper 172 Is provided so as to maintain a push gap in correspondence with the second spacers 260.

The first bumper 171 extends across the first column spacer 250 in plan view. At this time, the first bumper 171 may vertically cross the first column spacer 250 on a plane. As described above, the first spacer 250 and the first bumper 260 are formed in the same manner as the first spacer 250 and the first bumper 260 are formed on the first spacer 250 and the first bumper 171, The diffusion is limited to the inside of the light shielding region.

The second bumper (172) extends in a plane and intersects with the second column spacer (260). At this time, the second bumper 172 may vertically cross the second column spacer 260 on a plane. That is, the first bumper 171 and the second bumper 172 may extend in different (vertical) directions.

Meanwhile, the second bumper 172 may be located above one or more contact holes provided for electrical connection between the circuit elements. The second bumper 172 can prevent such defects by being placed on the hole, since the contact hole can be recognized as a visible smear when exposed to the visual field.

The column spacer in which foreign matter is scratched due to scratching of the alignment film is arranged in the same direction as the portion of the black matrix 210 having a relatively wider width (for example, in the same direction as the gate wiring), and the column spacer (For example, in the same direction as the gate wiring) of the portion of the black matrix 210 that extends with a relatively narrower width, and the bumpers are respectively positioned perpendicularly thereto, whereby the defective luminescent spot can be suppressed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. , Separation, substitution, and alteration of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents should be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

10: Liquid crystal display
160: first alignment film
171, 172: Bumpers
240: second alignment film
250: first column spacer
260: second column spacer

Claims

A pair of substrates defining an opening region and a shielding region by a black matrix;
A first spacer disposed on one of the pair of substrates and disposed in the shielding region;
And a first bumper in a plane different from the substrate on which the first spacer is provided and extending in a direction perpendicular to the first spacer on a plane and corresponding to the first spacer so as to maintain an interval between the pair of substrates .

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the first spacer and the first bumper are made of a metal,
Wherein the diffusion of foreign matter generated by the scratching of the alignment film surrounding the first spacer and the first bumper by the external force is limited inside the light shielding region.

3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the first spacer extends in the same direction as a portion of the black matrix that has a relatively wider width.

The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first bumper extends in the same direction as a portion of the black matrix that has a relatively narrower width.

5. The method of claim 4,
The first spacer extends in the same direction as the gate wiring,
And the first bumper extends in the same direction as the data line.

The method according to claim 1,
A second spacer disposed in a light shielding region of either one of the pair of substrates and extending in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the first spacer; And
And a second bumper extending in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the first bumper.

The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the second spacer has a lower height than the first spacer,
And the second spacer and the second bumper are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

8. The method of claim 7,
The second bumper is disposed on top of at least one contact hole provided for electrical connection between circuit elements.

A TFT array substrate having an alignment film;
A color filter substrate having a black matrix; And
And a structure corresponding to the black matrix between the TFT array substrate and the color filter substrate, the structure being provided to prevent a defective spot due to scratching of the alignment layer.

10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the structure is provided such that foreign matter due to scratching of the alignment film exists only in an area corresponding to the black matrix when an external force is applied.

10. The method of claim 9,
The structure comprises:
A column spacer array including a first column spacer having a first height and a second column spacer having a second height less than the first height; And
And a bumper corresponding to at least one of the first column spacer and the second column spacer and corresponding to at least one of the first column spacer and the second column spacer.

12. The method of claim 11,
The first column spacer having a length extending in a first direction,
Wherein the bumper has a length extending in a second direction that intersects the first direction,
Wherein the width of the black matrix in the first direction is larger than the width of the black matrix in the second direction.

13. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the bumper has an upper surface adjacent to an end of the at least one column spacer and the upper surface provides frictional resistance that limits the movement of the column spacers by an external force.