Color Filter Display Panel Column Spacer Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal displays (LCDs), the uniformity of the cell gap is compromised due to insufficient or excessive liquid crystal, leading to issues like voids, cold bubbles, pooling, and smearing, which affect the liquid crystal margin and display quality.
Innovation Solution
A color filter display plate with column spacers of varying heights and area ratios, including main, middle, and auxiliary spacers, is used to maintain a consistent cell gap and prevent pooling and smearing, while increasing the liquid crystal margin, by forming support members with photo-curable organic or metal layers and using a cell gap control layer with the same material as the support members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If column spacers of the same height are used to maintain cell gap, then the cell gap can be maintained uniformly, but liquid crystal may not be fully inserted when liquid crystal amount is insufficient, causing void or cold bubble
Solution Approach 1:
The column spacers are segmented into three distinct height levels: main column spacers (first height), middle column spacers (second height), and auxiliary column spacers (third height). This segmentation allows different regions of the display panel to have appropriately sized spacers, ensuring that liquid crystal can be fully inserted even when the amount is insufficient, while still maintaining uniform cell gap overall.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display panel are assigned different spacer heights based on local requirements. Main column spacers are positioned at specific locations to ensure adequate liquid crystal insertion, while auxiliary column spacers are placed in other regions to maintain cell gap uniformity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between complete liquid crystal insertion and uniform cell gap maintenance.
2Device complexity
If column spacers of the same height are used, then the structure is simple, but the liquid crystal margin decreases when liquid crystal amount is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The column spacer system is segmented into three height categories, allowing the structure to adapt to varying liquid crystal amounts. When liquid crystal amount is excessive, the differentiated spacer heights prevent over-filling issues while maintaining adequate liquid crystal margin, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and liquid crystal quantity management.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform column spacers are used, then manufacturing is simple, but pooling and smearing occur due to insufficient liquid crystal distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The column spacers are segmented into three height groups (main, middle, auxiliary) that are strategically positioned to promote uniform liquid crystal distribution. This segmentation prevents pooling and smearing by ensuring adequate liquid crystal reaches all regions, while the spacers themselves can still be manufactured using standard processes, thus balancing manufacturing simplicity with distribution precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different spacer heights are applied locally at different positions on the substrate. Main column spacers are placed in regions where liquid crystal insertion is critical, while auxiliary spacers are positioned elsewhere. This local quality approach ensures uniform liquid crystal distribution without requiring complex manufacturing processes for the entire spacer system.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents or reduces pooling and smearing, enhances the liquid crystal margin, and maintains a consistent cell gap, thereby improving the display quality and reducing voids and cold bubbles in LCDs.
Implementation Method 1
The support members may include a photo-curable organic or metal layer
Data Source
AI summary
A color filter display plate includes a substrate, a light blocking member on the substrate, a color filter on the substrate, a covering layer covering the light blocking member and the color filter, a common electrode on the covering layer, a plurality of support members on the common electrode at locations corresponding to the light blocking member, and a main column spacer, a middle column spacer, and an auxiliary column spacer, each of which is on a corresponding one of the support members, the column spacers having different heights and area ratios.