Patterned Spacers in LCD Gate and Data Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of ball spacers in liquid crystal display devices leads to irregular cell gaps, light leakage, and the ripple phenomenon due to their random distribution and movement, which reduces the reliability of the display and increases production costs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of patterned spacers formed through a series of processes including coating, photolithography, etching, and cleaning, which are fixed in predetermined positions to maintain a uniform cell gap without additional mask processes, using protrusions from the gate and data lines to create a patterned spacer that maintains the cell gap without light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ball spacers are used to maintain cell gap, then the cell gap can be maintained, but the distribution becomes irregular causing light leakage and ripple phenomenon
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spacer structure into multiple segments: protrusions from the gate line and protrusions from the data line, which together form the complete spacer structure. This segmentation allows each line to contribute to maintaining cell gap at specific locations, achieving uniform distribution without random placement
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are formed during the manufacturing process itself, before the liquid crystal layer is filled. The gate and data lines are designed with protruding portions that automatically serve as spacers, eliminating the need for separate spacer placement steps and ensuring precise positioning from the outset
2Manufacturing precision
If additional mask processes are used to create patterned spacers, then precise positioning is achieved, but production costs and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the spacer function with the existing gate and data line structures. The protrusions that define the pixel regions also serve as spacers, combining two functions into a single structural feature and eliminating the need for separate mask processes for spacer patterning
Solution Approach 2:
The gate and data lines serve dual purposes: they define the pixel regions through their crossing patterns and simultaneously maintain the cell gap through their protruding portions. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and fabrication steps required
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
The patterned spacers improve the reliability of the uniform cell gap and prevent light leakage, enhancing the display quality and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for additional mask processes.
Implementation Method 1
liquid crystal display (LCD) devices make use of optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules to produce images
Implementation Method 2
liquid crystal display (LCD) devices make use of optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules to produce images
Implementation Method 3
A patterned spacer 170 is formed between the first and second substrates 110 and 150
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display device and fabrication method is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates. Gate and data lines disposed on the first substrate cross each other to define a pixel region. A first protrusion extends from the gate line at a crossing of the gate line and the data line. A second protrusion extends from the data line at the crossing of the gate line and the data line. A thin film transistor is connected to the gate line and the data line. A pixel electrode in the pixel region is connected to the thin film transistor.