WO2015021716A1

WO2015021716A1 - Spacer, manufacturing method therefor, and liquid crystal panel comprising spacer

Info

Publication number: WO2015021716A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/089504
Authority: WO
Inventors: 孙东领; 尹小斌
Original assignee: 合肥京东方光电科技有限公司; 京东方科技集团股份有限公司
Priority date: 2013-08-14
Filing date: 2013-12-16
Publication date: 2015-02-19
Also published as: CN103439836A; CN103439836B

Abstract

A spacer (200) capable of preventing y the spacer (200) from abrading a substrate and preventing a liquid crystal panel from generating chromatic aberration due to bend and distortion. The spacer (200) is disposed between a color film substrate (100) and an array substrate (300) of the liquid crystal panel, and comprises a first component (201) and a second component (202). The first component (201) is disposed on a first substrate, the second component (202) is disposed between the first component (201) and a second substrate, and the height of the first component (201) is less than the total height of the spacer (200) in the direction perpendicular to the first substrate. The first component (201) and the second component (202) are of structures fitted in a concave-convex manner, the rigidity of a material used by the first component (201) is greater than that of a material used by the second component (202), and the elasticity of the material used by the second component (202) is greater than that of the material used by the first component (201). The first substrate is the color substrate (100) and the second substrate is the array substrate (300), or the first substrate is the array substrate (300) and the second substrate is the color substrate (100). Also provided are a method for manufacturing the spacer (200) and a liquid crystal panel comprising the spacer (200).

Description

Substrate and preparation method thereof and liquid crystal panel including the same

The present invention relates to the field of liquid crystal display technology, and in particular to a spacer and a method for preparing the same, and a liquid crystal panel including the spacer. Background technique

Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT LCD) is a display device with a wide range of sizes, low power consumption, and low radiation, including a relatively arranged array substrate (ie, TFT substrate) and a color film (ie, Color Filter). , referred to as CF substrate, and a liquid crystal layer filled between the two. As shown in FIG. 1, in order to maintain the stability and uniformity of the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, a plurality of spacers 200 are disposed between the array substrate 300 and the color filter substrate 100, and a plurality of the spacers 200 are spaced apart. The spacer 200 should have a certain supporting ability and a good elastic deformation ability. The spacers 200 are divided into two types, one is a spacer 200 that is free between the upper and lower substrates (ie, the color film substrate 100 and the array substrate 300), and is generally spherical, and is called a Ball Spacer (referred to as BS). The other is a spacer 200 fixed on the color film substrate, which is generally cylindrical, called Post Spacer (referred to as PS). Currently, the second type of spacer 200 is commonly used.

For example, the spacer 200 is fixed on the color filter substrate 100. The spacer 200 is generally formed on the color filter substrate 100 by a process such as exposure, development, and etching using a photoresist. The 200 is mostly made of a single material, so that it is difficult to simultaneously ensure the support ability and elastic deformation ability of the spacer 200, because for the same material, the two properties (ie, support ability and elastic deformation ability) are mutually inhibited. If the material used for the spacer 200 is too hard, the supporting ability is good, but the elastic deformation ability is naturally poor. When the force is applied, the spacer 200 may scratch the array substrate 300, thereby causing the liquid crystal panel to leak light; If the material used for the spacer 200 has a good elastic deformation ability, when the elastic deformation is too large, the supporting ability thereof is limited. When the force is applied, the spacer 200 does not have the intended supporting effect. At the same time, the spacer 200 may also undergo vertical expansion deformation or left and right twist deformation, which may easily cause the top end of the spacer 200 (ie, the spacer 200 and The one end of the array substrate 300 is in contact with the contact position, that is, the spacer 200 is unstable, which is caused by the displacement of the spacer 200, which causes the liquid crystal panel to cause chromatic aberration during display. Summary of the invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention includes providing a spacer for avoiding scratching of a substrate and avoiding bending deformation and causing chromatic aberration of the liquid crystal panel, and a preparation method thereof, in view of the above-mentioned deficiencies of the existing spacers And a liquid crystal panel including the spacer.

The technical solution adopted to solve the technical problem of the present invention is to provide a spacer disposed between a color filter substrate of a liquid crystal panel and an array substrate, wherein the spacer comprises a first component and a second component.

The first component is disposed on the first substrate, the second component is disposed between the first component and the second substrate, and the height of the first component is smaller than the total of the spacers in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate Height

The first component and the second component are a concave-convex structure, and the hardness of the material used by the first component is greater than the hardness of the material used by the second component, and the elasticity of the material used by the second component is greater than The first substrate is a color filter substrate, and the second substrate is an array substrate; or the first substrate is an array substrate, and the second substrate is a color film substrate.

The first member of the spacer of the present invention uses a relatively hard material, and the second member has a relatively good material elasticity, and the structures of the two members are concave-convex, so that when subjected to an external force, only one hardness is used. In the case of larger material spacers, the spacer of the present invention does not scratch the substrate in contact with it, and the spacer of the present invention is opposed to a spacer that uses only a material having a better elasticity. The first part is made of a material having a relatively high hardness and capable of fixing a second member which is made of a material having better elasticity, so that the material used in the second member is not deformed due to the better elasticity of the material, and is deformed when subjected to an external force. , thereby avoiding chromatic aberration when the liquid crystal panel is displayed. Preferably, the first component is fixed on the first substrate, and the second component is fixed on the second substrate.

Preferably, the first member is fixed to the first substrate, and the second member is separately provided on the first member from the second substrate.

Preferably, the first component is a concave structure, and the second component is a convex structure.

It is further preferred that the total height of the spacer in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate is equal to the height of the second member.

It is further preferred that the height of the second member in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate is smaller than the total height of the spacer.

Preferably, the first member has a convex structure, and the second member has a concave structure.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the first member to the total height of the spacer in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate is greater than or equal to 1/2 and less than or equal to 4/5.

Preferably, the second member has a concave shape at an intermediate portion of one end in contact with the second substrate.

It is further preferred that the intermediate portion has a concave curved surface.

Further preferably, the second member is at one end in contact with the second substrate and is less than or equal to 2/3.

Preferably, the material of the first member is any one of aluminum, molybdenum, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and indium tin oxide.

Preferably, the material of the second component is: a carbonate resin or a flexible polyethylene.

Preferably, the spacer has a cylindrical shape or a truncated cone shape.

The present invention also provides a method for preparing the above spacer, comprising the steps of: forming a first component pattern on the first substrate;

A pattern of the second component is formed on the first component to form the spacer. The preparation method of the spacer provided by the invention is simple and easy to implement.

The present invention also provides a method for preparing the above-mentioned spacer, which comprises the following steps Step:

Forming a pattern of the first component on the first substrate;

Forming a pattern of the second component on the second substrate;

The first substrate and the second substrate are paired to form a spacer.

The present invention also provides a liquid crystal panel comprising a color filter substrate and an array substrate, and a spacer disposed between the color filter substrate and the array substrate of the liquid crystal panel, wherein the spacer is the spacer. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a structural view of a conventional spacer;

Figure 2 is a structural view showing a spacer of Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

Figure 3 is another structural view of the spacer of the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a structural view of the spacer of the first embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is an embodiment of the present invention. A flow chart of a method of preparing a spacer of 2. Wherein the reference numerals are: 100, a color film substrate; 200, a spacer; 201, a first component; 2011, a first component material layer; 202, a second component; 2021, a second component material layer; 300, an array substrate . detailed description

The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Example 1

As shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the spacer 200 provided in this embodiment is disposed between the color filter substrate 100 of the liquid crystal panel and the array substrate 300. The spacer 200 includes the first component 201 and the second component 202. . The first component 201 is disposed on the color film substrate 100 (or the array substrate 300), and the second component 202 is disposed on the first component 201, that is, the second component 202 is disposed on the first component 201 and the array substrate 300 ( Or the color film substrate 100), and the height of the first member 201 in the direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 (or the array substrate 300) is smaller than the total height of the spacer 200 (ie, another substrate) Not in contact with the first component 201, but only in contact with the first component 202); the first component 201 and the second component 202 are in a concave-convex configuration, and the first component 201 is made of a material having a greater hardness than the second component The material used in component 202 is of a hardness, while the material used in second component 202 is preferably more elastic than the material employed in first component 201.

The following description will be made by taking the spacer 200 as being disposed on the color filter substrate 100 as an example. The first member 201 having a larger hardness is fixed on the color filter substrate 100, and the second member 202 having a larger elasticity is disposed on the first member 201, and the structure thereof is matched with the structure of the first member 201, wherein, the second The member 202 may be disposed on the first member 201 separately from the array substrate, or may have one end fixed to the array substrate 300 and the other end having a shape that is concave-convex with the first member 201. After the array substrate 300 and the color filter substrate 100 are paired with the cartridge, when subjected to an external force, the second component of the spacer 200 of the present embodiment is opposed to the spacer 200 using only one of the more rigid materials. 202 does not scratch the array substrate 300 in contact with the second member 202, so that the liquid crystal panel can be prevented from leaking light; the spacer 200 of the present embodiment is opposed to the spacer 200 using only a material having better elasticity. The first member 201 is made of a material having a relatively high hardness, and is capable of fixing the second member 202 which is made of a material having better elasticity, so that the material of the second member 202 is not subjected to an external force due to the better elasticity of the material used. When the deformation occurs and the displacement is generated, the chromatic aberration of the liquid crystal panel during display can be avoided. At the same time, the structure in which the first member 201 and the second member 202 are concave-convex fit can prevent the first member and the second member from sliding relative to each other. The structure of the spacer 200 is stable.

Preferably, the material of the first member 201 is any one of aluminum, molybdenum, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, indium tin oxide, or other relatively hard material. The material of the second member 202 is a carbonate resin or a flexible polyethylene, and other materials having better elasticity can of course be used.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably, the first member 201 is a concave structure, and the second member 202 is a convex structure, that is, the concave portion of the first member 201 is a convex portion of the second member 202. It is completely wrapped, and the concave portion of the first member 201 and the convex portion of the second member 202 are tightly fitted to each other. Due to the first part 201 The hardness is relatively large and is provided on the color filter substrate 100, so that the structure of the spacer 200 is stable.

Wherein, as a structure of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, further preferably, the total height of the spacer 200 in the direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 is equal to the height of the second component 202, that is, It is said that the convex portion of the second member 202 penetrates through the concave portion of the first member 201 and is in contact with the color filter substrate 100, at which time the second member 202 is tightly wrapped and fixed by the first member 201, so that the spacer 200 The stability is better.

As another structure of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, it is also preferable that the height of the second member 202 in the direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 is smaller than the total height of the spacer 200, that is, the first The convex portion of the two members 202 does not penetrate the concave portion of the first member 201, so that it is not in contact with the color filter substrate 100. Of course, the first member 201 of the structure can also fix the second member 202.

As still another structure of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, preferably, the first member 201 is a convex structure, and the second member 202 is a concave structure, that is, the concave portion of the second member 202 will be The convex portion of the first member 201 is tightly wrapped.

It should be noted that, although the spacer 200 is merely affixed to the color filter substrate 100, the spacer 200 provided in this embodiment may be fixed on the array substrate 300.

Preferably, the ratio of the height of the first member 201 to the total height of the spacer 200 in a direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 (or the array substrate 300) is greater than or equal to 1/2 and less than or equal to 4/5. That is, when the first member 201 is fixed on one of the two substrates (the color filter substrate 100 or the array substrate 300), the second substrate 201 is in contact with the other substrate (the array substrate 300 or the color filter substrate 100). Component 202. The width, the height of the bottom portion of the first member 201 in contact with the color filter substrate 100 (or the array substrate 300), and the first direction in the direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 (or the array substrate 300) may be set according to different conditions. The ratio between the height of the component 201 and the total height of the entire spacer 200 is such that the structure of the spacer 200 is more stable, and thus the two substrates (ie, the array substrate 300 and the color filter substrate 100) can still be subjected to an external force. Maintain a relatively stable distance. Preferably, the shape of the intermediate portion of the second member 202 at the end (hereinafter referred to as the tip end) which is in contact with the array substrate 300 (or the color filter substrate 100) is a concave curved surface. Of course, it is also necessary to control the ratio of the area of the concave region at the top end of the second member 202 to the area of the surrounding flat region, usually the ratio of the two is greater than or equal to 1/3 and less than or equal to 2/3 to ensure The stability of the spacer 200 and the substrate (the color filter substrate 100 or the array substrate 300) provided on the top end thereof when not subjected to an external force. When the top end of the second member 202 is pressed by an external force, since the elasticity of the second member 202 is good, the intermediate portion of the top end of the second member 202 is subjected to a force, and the concave curved surface thereof is opposite to the array substrate 300 above it. (or the color filter substrate 100) is bonded to increase the friction between the top end of the second member 202 of the spacer 200 and the array substrate 300 (or the color filter substrate 100) in contact therewith, thereby preventing the spacer 200 from occurring. slide. Of course, the intermediate portion of the top end of the second member 202 can also be other concave patterns, as long as the intermediate portion of the top end of the second member 202 is concave, which is within the scope of the present invention.

Preferably, the spacer 200 has a cylindrical shape or a truncated cone shape. Of course, other shapes are also possible as long as they can support the two substrates (the color filter substrate 100 and the array substrate 300). Example 2:

As shown in FIG. 5, the present embodiment provides a method for preparing a spacer 200 for the spacer 200 of the embodiment 1, which includes the following steps:

Step 1. Apply a first component material layer 2011 on the color filter substrate 100 or the array substrate 300, and form a pattern of the first member 201 by a patterning process (including processes such as exposure, development, and etching). The material of the first component material layer 2011 is a hard material such as aluminum, molybdenum, silicon oxide, silicon nitride or indium tin oxide. The height of the first member 201 in the direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 or the array substrate 300 can be controlled by the thickness of the coated first component material layer 2011.

Step 2, applying a second component material layer 2021 on the substrate on which the first component 201 is formed, and forming a pattern of the second component 202 by a patterning process. The material of the second component material layer 2021 is relatively good in elasticity such as carbonate resin or flexible polyethylene. s material. The second component can be controlled by controlling the thickness of the second component material layer 2021.

The height of the spacers 200 in the direction perpendicular to the color filter substrate 100 or the array substrate 300, thereby controlling the height of the entire spacers 200.

Wherein, the shape of the middle portion of the top end of the second member 202 is a concave arc surface, and forming the concave curved surface includes the following steps:

Applying a layer of positive photoresist to the top of the second member 202;

Exposing a region of the positive photoresist corresponding to the region where the concave curved surface is to be formed by using a mask;

The positive resist is developed to remove the positive photoresist in the exposed area to form a concave curved surface.

Alternatively, forming the concave curved surface includes the following steps:

Applying a layer of negative photoresist on top of the second component 202;

Exposing a negative photoresist that does not correspond to a region corresponding to the concave curved surface by a mask;

The negative photoresist is subjected to development processing to remove the negative photoresist in the unexposed regions, thereby forming a concave curved surface.

Through the above steps, a concave curved surface is formed at the top end of the second member 202, so that when the top end of the second member 202 is pressed by an external force, since the elasticity of the second member 202 is better, the middle of the top end of the second member 202 at this time Due to the force, the concave curved surface of the region is bonded to the array substrate 300 or the color filter substrate 100 above the substrate, thereby increasing the top end of the second member 202 of the spacer 200 and the array substrate 300 or the color filter substrate contacting the spacer member 200. 100 frictional forces, thereby preventing the spacer 200 from slipping.

Preferably, the mask used above is a halftone mask. With a halftone mask, different areas of exposure can be simultaneously exposed to different requirements. Of course, other masks such as a gray scale mask can also be used.

The spacer 200 for supporting the array substrate 300 and the color filter substrate 100 is finally formed by the above steps.

The preparation method of the spacer 200 provided in this embodiment is simple and easy to implement. Example 3 This embodiment provides a method for preparing another spacer 200 for the spacer 200 described in Embodiment 1, which includes the following steps:

Forming a pattern of the first member 201 on the first substrate;

Forming a pattern of the second member 202 on the second substrate;

The two substrates are paired to form a spacer 200 sandwiched between the two substrates.

The first substrate is a color filter substrate, and the second substrate is an array substrate; or the first substrate is an array substrate, and the second substrate is a color filter substrate.

That is, the first member 201 is formed on the color filter substrate 100, and the second member 202 is formed on the array substrate 300. Alternatively, the first member 201 is formed on the array substrate 300, and the second member is formed on the color filter substrate 100. 202.

Finally, the first substrate and the second substrate are aligned, that is, the color film substrate 100 and the array substrate 300 are paired with the first component 201 and the second component sandwiched between the color filter substrate 100 and the array substrate 300. 202 is the spacer 200, thereby forming the spacer 200.

The spacer provided by the embodiment is prepared by preparing the first component 201 and the second component 202 of the spacer 200 on the first substrate and the second substrate, respectively, and preparing the spacer provided in Embodiment 3. The method is to sequentially prepare the first component 201 and the second component 202 of the spacer 200 on one substrate (the color film substrate 100 or the array substrate 300), that is, to prepare the entire spacer 200 on one substrate, therefore, The heights of the first member 201 and the second member 202 of the embodiment are significantly lower with respect to the height of the entire spacer 200 of Embodiment 3, respectively, so the preparation process of the present embodiment is easier. Example 4

The embodiment provides a liquid crystal panel including an array substrate 300, a color filter substrate 100, and a spacer 200 disposed between the color filter substrate 100 and the array substrate 300 of the liquid crystal panel, wherein the spacer 200 is implemented. The spacer 200 described in Example 1.

Since the liquid crystal panel of the present embodiment includes the spacer 200 in Embodiment 1, it is not scratched by the external force and the second member 202 when subjected to an external force. The substrate (the color film substrate 100 or the array substrate 300) is contacted to prevent light leakage of the liquid crystal panel, and at the same time, the spacer 200 is not displaced due to an external force, thereby causing chromatic aberration of the liquid crystal panel during display. It is to be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments employed to explain the principles of the invention, but the invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. These modifications and improvements are also considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

A spacer disposed between a color filter substrate of a liquid crystal panel and an array substrate, wherein the spacer comprises

a first member disposed on the first substrate, and wherein a height of the first member is smaller than a total height of the spacer in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate; and a second member disposed at the Between the first component and the second substrate,

Wherein the first component and the second component are a concave-convex fit structure, and the hardness of the material used by the first component is greater than the hardness of the material used by the second component, and the material used by the second component The elasticity is greater than the elasticity of the material used in the first component;

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first member is fixed to the first substrate, and the second member is fixed to the second substrate.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first member is fixed on the first substrate, and the second member is separately disposed on the first substrate On the part.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first member has a concave structure, and the second member has a convex structure.

The spacer of claim 4, wherein a total height of the spacer in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate is equal to a height of the second member.

The spacer according to claim 4, wherein a height of the second member in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate is smaller than a total height of the spacer Degree.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the first member has a convex structure and the second member has a concave structure.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a height of the first member to a total height of the spacer in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate is greater than or equal to 1 /2 and less than or equal to 4/5.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the second member has a concave shape at an intermediate portion of one end in contact with the second substrate.

10. The spacer of claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion has a concave curved surface.

The spacer according to claim 9, wherein a ratio of an area of the intermediate portion of the second member at an end in contact with the second substrate to an area of a peripheral flat region is greater than Or equal to 1/3 and less than or equal to 2/3.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the material of the first member is any one of aluminum, molybdenum, silicon oxide, silicon nitride, and indium tin oxide.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the material of the second member is: a carbonate resin or a flexible polyethylene.

The spacer according to claim 1, wherein the spacer has a cylindrical shape or a truncated cone shape.

15. The manufacture of a spacer according to any one of claims 1, 3-14 The preparation method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

Forming a pattern of the first component on the first substrate;

A pattern of the second member is formed on the first member to form the spacer.

A method of preparing a spacer according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 to 14, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

Forming a pattern of the first component on the first substrate;

Forming a pattern of the second component on the second substrate;

The first substrate and the second substrate are paired to form a spacer.

A liquid crystal panel comprising an array substrate, a color filter substrate, and the spacer according to any one of claims 1 to 14.