Blind Hole Support Walls for LCD Substrate Flatness

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Solution Overview

Problem

The glass substrate in existing liquid crystal display panels recesses at the blind hole area during vacuum cell-assembly, causing optical performance issues and curvature problems.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating first and second support walls around the blind holes, with liquid crystal channels and vacuum cavities, to support the substrates and prevent recessing, allowing liquid crystals to flow and communicate, thereby mitigating vacuum bubbles and curvature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the blind hole area is hollowed out to enable under-screen camera, then the camera integration is achieved, but the glass substrate recesses inwards during vacuum cell-assembly causing concave lens effect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera integrationVSAvoidsubstrate flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple discrete support posts distributed around the blind hole area. Each support post independently maintains local substrate height, collectively preventing overall substrate recession while preserving the blind hole functionality for camera integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Support posts are introduced as intermediary elements between the blind hole structure and the glass substrate. These posts act as mechanical mediators that transfer and distribute the vacuum pressure forces, preventing direct substrate recession into the blind hole area while maintaining the pressure differential needed for cell assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If the liquid crystal layer height is varied in the blind hole area to compensate for substrate recession, then the optical performance can be improved, but the liquid crystal distribution becomes non-uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidliquid crystal distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Support posts are installed beforehand during the cell assembly process, before liquid crystal is introduced. This preliminary action establishes the correct substrate height and maintains uniform liquid crystal layer thickness throughout, preventing the need for post-assembly height adjustments and ensuring uniform liquid crystal distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support post structure creates a standardized, repeatable height reference that can be consistently replicated across multiple panels. This copying of the height standard ensures uniform liquid crystal layer thickness and consistent optical performance across different manufactured units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Strength

If vacuum pressure is applied during cell-assembly to bond substrates, then the bonding strength is improved, but the glass substrate in the blind hole area recesses inwards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidsubstrate curvature

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Support posts function as counterbalancing elements that resist the inward recession force exerted by vacuum pressure on the blind hole area substrate. The posts provide upward mechanical support that counterweights the downward pressure-induced deformation, maintaining substrate planarity while allowing vacuum bonding to proceed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The support posts are positioned in advance to cushion and protect the blind hole area substrate from vacuum pressure damage. This beforehand cushioning prevents substrate recession before it can occur, allowing the vacuum bonding process to achieve strong adhesion without creating harmful substrate curvature or concave lens effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively reduces the curvature radius of the glass substrate in the blind hole area, enhances optical performance, and relieves indentation of the second substrate using the Seesaw theory.

Implementation Method 1

a vacuum cavity is formed inside the first support walls... the second substrate can recess in the area corresponding to the vacuum cavity, thereby mitigate recessing of the second substrate in the blind hole area

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11137646B1Liquid crystal display panel and display device

Publication Date: 2021.10.05 WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a display device. The liquid crystal display panel includes: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate; liquid crystals filled between the first substrate and the second substrate; and first support walls disposed on the first substrate to support the second substrate, wherein the first support walls are disposed around the first blind hole and formed with a liquid crystal channel having a size larger than a size of each of the liquid crystals. In the present invention, by disposing the first support walls on the first substrate and around the first blind hole, when the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded by vacuum cell-assembly, the edge of the blind hole is supported, such that recessing of the glass substrate can be mitigated.