Inorganic Spacer Overlap for Liquid Crystal Pixel Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal devices face issues with resin spacers causing erroneous operations due to organic material contamination and increased wiring area, which affects pixel density and performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inorganic material spacer that overlaps the pixel electrode, reducing organic contamination and allowing for higher pixel density by stabilizing the distance between substrates and enhancing positional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If resin-made spacers are arranged in the liquid crystal layer to achieve uniform distances between substrates, then spacing uniformity is improved, but organic material contamination occurs causing erroneous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the spacer from organic resin to inorganic material, which fundamentally alters the chemical composition to eliminate organic contamination while preserving the spacing function. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by maintaining spacing uniformity without introducing harmful organic materials into the liquid crystal layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inorganic materials (such as metal oxides or ceramics) for the spacer, representing a composite material approach that combines the mechanical support function with chemical inertness. This material substitution eliminates the harmful organic components while maintaining the necessary structural properties for uniform spacing.
2Reliability
If spacers are arranged to avoid overlapping pixel electrodes to prevent organic contamination, then operation accuracy is improved, but wiring area increases reducing pixel density
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the spacer material to inorganic substance, the patent removes the harmful organic component constraint. This allows spacers to be positioned anywhere on the substrate including over pixel electrodes, as the inorganic material does not contaminate the liquid crystal layer. Consequently, pixel density can be increased without compromising operation accuracy.
3Manufacturing precision
If resin spacers are used to define distance between substrates, then spacing function is achieved, but organic material enters liquid crystal layer causing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the chemical composition parameter of the spacer from organic resin to inorganic material. This parameter change eliminates the source of organic contamination while preserving the spacer's geometric function of defining the distance between substrates with precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of spacer material contact with liquid crystal by using inorganic materials that are chemically inert and non-contaminating. The inorganic nature of the spacer becomes a beneficial feature that prevents contamination while maintaining the necessary spacing function.
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 inorganic spacer prevents organic contamination, maintains accurate spacing, and allows for higher pixel density, improving the electro-optical device's resolution and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
the spacer defining a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate
Implementation Method 2
an electro-optical layer disposed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, and the common electrode, the electro-optical layer having optical characteristics varying in accordance with an electric field
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-optical device includes a first substrate including a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode, a second substrate including a common electrode, and an electro-optical layer disposed between the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode, and the common electrode, the electro-optical layer having optical characteristics varying in accordance with an electric field, wherein the first substrate is provided with a spacer containing an inorganic material, the spacer defining a distance between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the spacer overlaps the first pixel electrode when viewed in a thickness direction of the first substrate.