Liquid Crystal Display Alignment Control Layer Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal display fabrication methods involving alignment layers are time-consuming and prone to uneven polymerization due to single-sided UV irradiation, leading to thickness discrepancies between substrates and undesirable bright spots.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a mixed solution of liquid crystal molecules and monomers between substrates, where both substrates are subjected to UV light irradiation to form alignment control layers with a controlled thickness ratio, eliminating the need for conventional polyimide alignment layers and addressing uneven illumination issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single-sided UV irradiation is used to form alignment layers, then the fabrication process is simpler and faster, but the polymer thickness becomes uneven between substrates causing bright spots
Solution Approach 1:
The single UV irradiation process is segmented into two separate irradiation steps, with each substrate receiving UV light from its respective side. This segmentation allows independent control of polymerization for each substrate, ensuring uniform thickness while maintaining efficient fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The irradiation approach transitions from one-dimensional (single-sided) to two-dimensional (double-sided) illumination. By introducing irradiation from both sides of the cell, the system achieves uniform energy distribution across both substrates, eliminating thickness variations.
2Reliability
If conventional polyimide alignment layers are used, then alignment control is achieved, but the fabrication process becomes time-consuming and tedious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the alignment control function from the conventional polyimide alignment layer and transfers it to the polymer alignment layer formed in situ within the liquid crystal mixture. This eliminates the need for separate alignment layer fabrication steps while maintaining effective alignment control.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment layer formation process is merged with the liquid crystal filling and polymerization process. The polymer that forms the alignment layer is the same polymer that will eventually form the liquid crystal elastomer network, combining multiple functions into a single material 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
This method simplifies the fabrication process, reduces production costs, and ensures uniform alignment control layers, preventing bright spots and improving yield by achieving a consistent thickness ratio between the alignment control layers on both substrates.
Implementation Method 1
performing a UV light irradiation process to the mixed solution, wherein the monomers are polymerized to form a first alignment control layer on a surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal molecules, and form a second alignment control layer on a surface of the second substrate facing the liquid crystal molecules
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method for fabricating a liquid crystal display, including: providing a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are disposed oppositely to each other; filling a mixed solution between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the mixed solution comprises a plurality of liquid crystal molecules and a plurality of monomers; performing a UV light irradiation process to the mixed solution, wherein the monomers are polymerized to form a first alignment control layer on a surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal molecules, and form a second alignment control layer on a surface of the second substrate facing the liquid crystal molecules, and the thickness of the first alignment control layer and that of the second alignment control layer have a ratio of about 1/2-2/1.