Liquid Crystal Display Column Spacer Light-Shielding Region Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal display devices, light leakage occurs due to damage to the alignment films caused by column spacers, which alters the alignment direction of the liquid crystal layer, especially as the substrates thin and bend, leading to reduced quality.
Innovation Solution
The column spacer is formed within a light-shielding region on the substrates, with a wider light-shielding region periphery to prevent damage to the alignment films, and a separate light-shielding layer is added in the periphery of the column spacer to enhance light blocking, reducing the effective pixel area adjacent to the spacer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the thickness of substrates is reduced to achieve slimness, then the portability and aesthetics are improved, but the substrates become prone to bending which causes column spacer displacement and alignment film damage leading to light leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the column spacer within an enlarged light-shielding region before any bending or displacement occurs. This preventive design ensures that even if the substrate bends and the spacer moves, it cannot reach the alignment film area, thus preventing damage before it happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding region acts as an intermediary buffer zone between the column spacer and the alignment film. By enlarging this intermediate region, the patent creates a safety margin that prevents direct contact between the spacer and alignment film, thereby protecting the alignment film from damage.
2Manufacturing precision
If the column spacer is positioned closer to the pixel region to maintain cell gap, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the risk of damaging alignment films and causing light leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the column spacer within an enlarged light-shielding region before any bending or displacement occurs. This preventive design ensures that even if the substrate bends and the spacer moves, it cannot reach the alignment film area, thus preventing damage before it happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a localized enlargement of the light-shielding region specifically around the column spacer position, while maintaining the normal pixel region quality elsewhere. This localized modification allows the spacer to be positioned closer to the pixel region for better cell gap uniformity without causing light leakage.
3Reliability
If a separate light-shielding layer is added around the column spacer to prevent light leakage, then the image quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the light-shielding function with the existing light-shielding region structure by enlarging it, rather than adding a completely separate light-shielding layer. This integration approach achieves the light leakage prevention function while avoiding the complexity of additional manufacturing steps for a separate layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The enlarged light-shielding region serves multiple functions: it acts as both the original light-shielding structure and a protective buffer zone for the alignment film. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display device is discussed, which includes a first substrate and a second substrate, which face each other; a liquid crystal layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a column spacer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the column spacer is formed within a light-shielding region on the first substrate or the second substrate, and a width of the light-shielding region in the periphery of the column spacer is greater than that of the light-shielding region where the column spacer is not formed. Since the width of the light-shielding region in the periphery of the column spacer is greater than that of the light-shielding region where the column spacer is not formed, even though an alignment film is damaged by the column spacer, light leakage can be prevented from occurring at the damaged portion.