LCD Column Spacer Segmentation for Gap Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LCD devices with column spacers face issues of touch defects due to large contact areas between the spacer and substrates, leading to uneven cell gaps and liquid crystal scattering, which affects display quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a liquid crystal display device with protrusions crossing the gate lines on the lower substrate, where the first column spacer contacts the protrusion and the second column spacer is spaced from the lower substrate, minimizing contact area changes and maintaining uniform cell gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a column spacer is fixed to a substrate with large contact area, then the cell gap can be maintained, but frictional force increases and causes touch defects
Solution Approach 1:
The column spacer is divided into two distinct parts: a first column spacer with a larger contact area for maintaining cell gap, and a second column spacer with a smaller contact area for preventing touch defects. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without the drawbacks of a single unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the column spacer structure are given different contact area characteristics. The first column spacer region has a larger contact area optimized for cell gap maintenance, while the second column spacer region has a smaller contact area optimized for touch resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between gap maintenance and touch defect prevention.
2Manufacturing precision
If a column spacer contacts the upper substrate, then cell gap is maintained, but liquid crystal scatters on touched regions
Solution Approach 1:
The column spacer functionality is segmented into two separate structures: the first column spacer that contacts the upper substrate to maintain cell gap, and the second column spacer that is spaced from the upper substrate to prevent liquid crystal scattering. This segmentation eliminates the harmful effect while preserving the beneficial effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The second column spacer acts as an intermediary structure that provides push prevention functionality without directly contacting the upper substrate or liquid crystal. By being spaced from the upper substrate, it prevents liquid crystal scattering while still maintaining the overall cell gap through its structural support.
3Ease of manufacture
If the column spacer is fixed to one substrate, then assembly is simplified, but contact area changes cause gap defects
Solution Approach 1:
The column spacer is segmented into two functional parts with different contact characteristics. The first column spacer is fixed to the lower substrate for assembly simplicity, while the second column spacer is configured to be spaced from the upper substrate. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from simplified assembly while avoiding the harmful effect of contact area changes through the spaced configuration of the second spacer.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and a method for fabricating the same. The LCD device comprises a lower substrate, gate lines and data lines crossing each other on the lower substrate and defining pixel regions, thin film transistors (TFTs) formed at intersections between the gate lines and the data lines, protrusions disposed on the gate lines in a crossing manner, an upper substrate disposed to face the lower substrate, a first column spacer formed on the upper substrate and corresponding to the protrusion disposed on the lower substrate, a second column spacer disposed on the upper substrate with a distance from the lower substrate, and corresponding to a non-pixel region of the lower substrate, and a liquid crystal layer filled in a space between the lower substrate and the upper substrate.