LCD Column Spacer Placement on Black Matrix for Uniform Cell Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid crystal display (LCD) devices face issues with non-uniform cell gaps due to differences in height of column spacers on color filter layers, leading to variations in optical properties and defective image display, as well as inaccuracies in estimating the amount of liquid crystal material.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves forming column spacers on uniformly-leveled surfaces of the black matrix layer and common electrode, excluding regions with color filters, ensuring a consistent cell gap and accurate liquid crystal material estimation by placing spacers between adjacent first patterns where no second patterns are formed, thus maintaining uniformity across the LCD device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If column spacers are formed on color filter layers, then the liquid crystal layer is sealed between substrates, but the cell gap becomes non-uniform due to height differences of color filter layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts column spacers from regions with color filter layers and places them only on the black matrix layer, eliminating the source of height variation. By removing spacers from problematic areas (color filter regions with varying heights), the invention ensures uniform cell gap without being affected by the underlying layer height differences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different spacer placement strategies to different regions: spacers are placed only on the black matrix layer region, not on color filter layers. This local differentiation ensures that spacers rest on a uniform surface (black matrix) rather than on varying-height color filter layers, achieving uniform cell gap through region-specific quality control.
2Reliability
If column spacers are formed on color filter layers, then sealing is achieved, but optical properties vary and image defects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts spacers from color filter regions and relocates them to the black matrix layer, eliminating the harmful effect of non-uniform optical properties while preserving the sealing function. This extraction removes the cause of optical defects without compromising the essential sealing capability.
3Reliability
If column spacers are formed on color filter layers, then sealing is achieved, but liquid crystal material estimation becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting spacers from color filter regions to the black matrix layer, the invention creates a uniform reference plane for measuring cell gap. This uniform placement enables accurate estimation of liquid crystal material volume, as all spacers rest on the same reference level without underlying height variations.
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 ensures a uniform cell gap and prevents defects from insufficient or excessive liquid crystal material, enhancing image quality by maintaining consistent optical properties across the display.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystals of the liquid crystal layer are oriented in a certain direction by an electric field generated between the corresponding pixel electrode and the corresponding common electrode
Implementation Method 2
The second substrate includes a black matrix layer for blocking light incident to a region other than the pixel regions P
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on the first substrate crossing each other to define pixel regions, a black matrix layer on the second substrate in regions corresponding to the gate lines and the data lines, color filter layers on the second substrate covering at least the pixel regions, a plurality of column spacers on respective portions of the black matrix layer excluding the color filter layers, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.