Liquid Crystal Panel Alignment Layer Photolithography Process
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of multi-domain liquid crystal panels is complex and difficult due to the need for repeated rubbing on a single pixel area, which is challenging to achieve with traditional methods, and results in high costs and processing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the formation of two alignment layers with different alignment directions within each pixel area, using a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer alignment layer containing a chiral azobenzene compound, where the second alignment layer is formed by coating a mixture layer with specific compositions and undergoing ultraviolet irradiation through masks to create alignment units that penetrate the pixel areas, simplifying the process and reducing the need for repeated rubbing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If repeated rubbing is performed on alignment layers within one pixel area to achieve multi-domain display, then multi-domain display performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel area is divided into multiple sub-pixel regions, with each sub-pixel region containing alignment layers with different frictional alignment directions. This segmentation allows different domains to be formed within each pixel without requiring repeated rubbing of the entire pixel area, thereby achieving multi-domain display while simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions within the pixel area are given different local properties by applying alignment layers with specific frictional alignment directions to different sub-pixel regions. This local differentiation enables multi-domain display performance while avoiding the need for complex repeated rubbing processes across the entire pixel area.
2Reliability
If traditional rubbing methods are used to create multiple alignment directions within one pixel, then multi-domain state can be achieved, but the manufacturing cost and processing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Alignment layers with different frictional alignment directions are pre-formed in different sub-pixel regions before the liquid crystal assembly process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated rubbing operations during manufacturing, making the process easier to implement while ensuring multi-domain state formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical rubbing method is replaced by a photolithography-based approach where alignment layers are patterned using photoresist and UV irradiation. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical rubbing operations, significantly easing the manufacturing process while achieving the same multi-domain alignment effect.
3Reliability
If multiple rubbing operations are performed on the same pixel area to form alignment layers with different directions, then liquid crystal molecules can be formed into different initial alignments, but the manufacturing procedure becomes complex and difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of performing multiple rubbing operations on the same pixel area, the patent uses a photolithography process to create a copy of the alignment pattern through photoresist layers. The photoresist is irradiated through a mask to form aligned regions, and subsequent development creates the desired alignment pattern without repeated mechanical rubbing, thereby simplifying the manufacturing procedure while achieving proper liquid crystal molecule alignment.
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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces processing difficulty, and achieves multi-domain displays by forming multiple initial alignments of liquid crystal molecules within each pixel area, enhancing display performance while lowering production costs.
Implementation Method 1
coating a mixture layer that includes a chiral azobenzene compound, a cholesteric liquid crystal polymerizable monomer and a photoinitiator over the first alignment layer... conducting ultraviolet irradiation on the mixture layer via a mask, so that a portion of the mixture layer irradiated by ultraviolet light is formed to have an alignment along a second direction
Implementation Method 2
the second alignment layer is a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer alignment layer containing a chiral azobenzene compound
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a liquid crystal panel, a display apparatus and a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel. The manufacturing method of the liquid crystal panel includes: forming a first alignment layer covering a substrate surface and having an alignment direction along a first direction on a first substrate; the first substrate includes multiple column pixel areas; forming a second alignment layer having an alignment direction along a second direction on the first alignment layer, the first direction and the second direction are different directions, in correspondence with each of the column pixel areas, the second alignment layer has at least one aligning unit that penetrates the column pixel areas, and a width of each of the aligning unit is smaller than a width of the column pixel area.