Common Electrode Openings for Liquid Crystal Alignment in PLS Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid crystal display panels with plane to line switching (PLS) type configurations face issues with color variation when viewed from different angles, leading to decreased brightness due to the formation of domains within pixel areas.
Innovation Solution
A display substrate design featuring a common electrode with specific openings that extend in different directions, overlapping multiple pixels and forming a continuous pattern, which aligns liquid crystal molecules in different directions across pixel areas, reducing domain formation within single pixels and maintaining brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If multiple domains are formed in a pixel to improve color variation, then color consistency across viewing angles is improved, but liquid crystal texture forms at domain boundaries causing brightness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the common electrode into multiple separate electrodes (first common electrode and second common electrode) that are spatially separated by a gap. This segmentation prevents the formation of liquid crystal texture at boundaries while still enabling multiple domain formation within each pixel for color consistency. The gap between electrode segments eliminates the boundary problem that causes brightness decrease.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces asymmetry by creating a gap between the first and second common electrodes, breaking the continuous symmetry of traditional common electrodes. This asymmetric configuration with separated electrodes allows independent control of liquid crystal domains while avoiding the formation of problematic textures at electrode boundaries.
2Ease of manufacture
If a continuous common electrode is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but color variation occurs when viewed from different angles
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous common electrode is segmented into multiple separate common electrodes (first and second common electrodes) with gaps between them. This segmentation enables better control over liquid crystal domain formation across different viewing angles, improving color consistency while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes through standard photolithography techniques.
3Stability of the object's composition
If separate common electrodes are used for each pixel, then color variation is reduced, but the opening ratio decreases due to additional electrode structures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functionality of multiple separate common electrodes into a coordinated system where the first and second common electrodes work together to control liquid crystal domains. By strategically positioning these electrodes and creating gaps between them, the design achieves the color consistency benefits of separate electrodes while minimizing the impact on opening ratio through optimized electrode layout and gap placement.
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
This design ensures consistent color perception across various viewing angles, reduces brightness and contrast decreases at domain boundaries, and increases the opening ratio by eliminating the need for a common line, thereby enhancing display quality.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystal display device controls alignment of liquid crystal using an electric field formed between two electrodes, such as a pixel electrode and a common electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A display substrate includes a display area corresponding to a plurality of pixels, a peripheral area surrounding the display area, a thin film transistor for driving a corresponding one of the pixels, a gate line electrically coupled to the thin film transistor, a data line crossing the gate line and electrically coupled to the thin film transistor, a pixel electrode electrically coupled to the thin film transistor, and a common electrode overlapping the pixel electrode and having a first opening overlapping a first pixel of the pixels, and a second opening overlapping a second pixel of the pixels adjacent the first pixel, wherein the first opening and the second opening extend in different directions, and wherein the common electrode is continuous and overlaps the first and second pixels.