Hydrophobic Surface Pattern for Liquid Crystal Sealant Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the manufacturing of liquid crystal display panels, the contact between liquid crystal molecules and uncured sealant can affect the physical properties of the liquid crystal material, leading to contamination and performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A display panel design that incorporates a hydrophobic surface on the substrates to prevent or reduce contamination by the uncured sealant, where the hydrophobic surface extends from the central portion of the alignment layer towards the edge, preventing contact between the liquid crystal material and the sealant during the assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid crystal material is dropped onto the substrate without a hydrophobic surface, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the liquid crystal material contacts the uncured sealant causing contamination and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A hydrophobic surface is formed on the substrate before the liquid crystal material is dropped onto it. This preliminary surface treatment creates a hydrophobic region that prevents the liquid crystal material from contacting the uncured sealant, thereby avoiding contamination and maintaining display performance without adding complex manufacturing steps
2Ease of manufacture
If the liquid crystal material is allowed to spread freely on the substrate, then the filling process is simple, but the liquid crystal material contacts the uncured sealant causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate surface is treated to create a localized hydrophobic region where the liquid crystal material is dropped. This local quality change allows the liquid crystal material to spread freely within the hydrophobic region while being prevented from contacting the uncured sealant at the boundary, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while preventing contamination
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 hydrophobic surface effectively minimizes contamination and maintains the performance of the liquid crystal display panel by restricting the spread of the liquid crystal material and preventing contact with the uncured sealant, thereby reducing degradation.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrophobic surface includes a hydrophobic material that is more hydrophobic than the individual central portion. The hydrophobic surface effectively minimizes contamination and maintains the performance of the liquid crystal display panel by restricting the spread of the liquid crystal material and preventing contact with the uncured sealant
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fabricating a display panel includes providing a first substrate and a second substrate, forming an alignment material layer on one of the first substrate and the second substrate and patterning the alignment material layer to form an individual central portion, forming a hydrophobic surface extending from an edge of the individual central portion toward an edge of the one of the first substrate and the second substrate, forming a sealant material on the one of the first substrate and the second substrate, dropping a display medium material on the individual central portion, assembling the first substrate and the second substrate with the sealant material and curing the sealant material to form a sealant. A gap separates the sealant material from the individual central portion and the hydrophobic surface extends in the gap. The display medium material is restricted by the hydrophobic surface and does not contact the sealant material.