LCD Common Electrode Step-Removed Part for Alignment Hardness

Solution Overview

Problem

As liquid crystal displays (LCDs) become thinner, the photo-alignment layer with low hardness generates floating foreign materials, which deteriorate side visibility and require improved alignment techniques to maintain aperture ratio and response time.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a step-removed part in the common electrode corresponding to the main column spacer, combined with a photo-aligned alignment layer, effectively reduces the generation of floating foreign materials by increasing the hardness of the alignment layer and preventing damage from the main column spacer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the substrate is made thinner to achieve a thin film shape, then the LCD becomes thinner and more compact, but the photo-alignment layer with low hardness generates floating foreign materials that deteriorate side visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of LCDVSAvoidfloating foreign materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary reinforcement to the photo-alignment layer by forming an additional photo-alignment layer on top of the existing one. This preliminary action increases the hardness of the alignment structure before it can generate floating foreign materials during operation, thereby preventing the deterioration of side visibility while maintaining the thin film shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of multiple photo-alignment layers. By combining multiple layers of photo-alignment material, the overall hardness and structural integrity are enhanced, preventing the generation of floating foreign materials that would otherwise occur in single-layer thin film configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If the photo-alignment layer is used to control alignment direction and angle, then the aperture ratio is increased and response time is improved, but the low hardness of the layer causes floating foreign materials to generate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidfloating foreign materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary reinforcement to the photo-alignment layer by forming an additional photo-alignment layer on top of the existing one. This preliminary action increases the hardness of the alignment structure before it can generate floating foreign materials during operation, thereby preventing the deterioration of side visibility while maintaining the thin film shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure consisting of multiple photo-alignment layers. By combining multiple layers of photo-alignment material, the overall hardness and structural integrity are enhanced, preventing the generation of floating foreign materials that would otherwise occur in single-layer thin film configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 enhances the hardness of the alignment layer, reducing foreign material generation and maintaining the benefits of photo-alignment while improving side visibility and response time in thinner LCDs.

Implementation Method 1

a photo-alignment method of irradiating light to an alignment layer to control an alignment direction and an alignment angle of the liquid crystal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhoto-alignment: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS9785000B2Liquid crystal display

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD

AI summary

A liquid crystal display includes a first insulation substrate, a gate line and a data line disposed on the first insulation substrate and insulated from and intersecting each other, a first passivation layer covering the gate line and the data line, a common electrode positioned on the first passivation layer and including a step-removed part, a second passivation layer covering the common electrode, a pixel electrode positioned on the second passivation layer, a second insulation substrate facing the first insulation substrate, and a main column spacer positioned on the second insulation substrate, where the step-removed part is provided by removing the common electrode at a position corresponding to the main column spacer.