LCD Panel Scan Lines Under Alignment Protrusions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional MVA LCD panels face challenges in controlling the tilt of liquid crystal molecules near alignment protrusions due to electric fields from scan lines, leading to light leakage and reduced display quality, which affects aperture ratio and contrast ratio.

Innovation Solution

The LCD panel design includes scan lines disposed under alignment protrusions to act as a light-shielding layer, potentially overlapping with a black matrix, and uses ring-shaped patterns or varying data line widths to minimize light leakage and enhance aperture ratio without requiring additional light-shielding structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a black matrix is added to prevent light leakage around alignment protrusions, then display quality is improved, but aperture ratio is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay qualityVSAvoidaperture ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The scan line is merged with the black matrix by positioning the scan line directly underneath the alignment protrusions. This combination allows the scan line to serve dual functions: as an electrical conductor and as part of the light-shielding structure, thereby preventing light leakage without requiring additional black matrix material that would reduce the aperture ratio.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The scan line is designed to serve itself by performing both its electrical function and its light-shielding function. By positioning it underneath the alignment protrusions, the scan line automatically provides the light-shielding effect typically requiring a separate black matrix, thus eliminating the need for additional light-shielding structures that would reduce the aperture ratio.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If alignment protrusions are used to achieve wide viewing angle, then viewing angle is improved, but light leakage occurs due to uncontrolled liquid crystal tilt

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveviewing angleVSAvoidlight leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scan line positioned underneath the alignment protrusions acts as an intermediary light-shielding structure. It mediates between the alignment protrusions (which create the wide viewing angle) and the liquid crystal molecules (which would otherwise leak light at their periphery), thereby enabling wide viewing angle without light leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If scan lines are positioned under alignment protrusions to reduce light leakage, then aperture ratio is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaperture ratioVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the scan line with the black matrix function through strategic positioning, the invention reduces the need for separate alignment structures. This integration simplifies the overall structure and reduces the cumulative alignment precision requirements that would arise from multiple separate components needing to be perfectly positioned.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design effectively reduces light leakage, increases the aperture ratio, and improves contrast ratio while reducing fabrication costs by eliminating the need for a separate black matrix and optimizing storage capacitor placement.

Implementation Method 1

the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the opposite substrate and the active device array substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLiquid crystal molecular orientation control: Liquid Crystals

Implementation Method 2

the tilt of the liquid crystal molecules located at the periphery of the alignment protrusions is difficult to control due to an electric field from the scan line

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric field effect on liquid crystal molecules: Electric Field

Implementation Method 3

alignment protrusions and the alignment slits of pixel electrodes to arrange liquid crystal molecules as multi-domain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAlignment protrusion effect:

Implementation Method 4

Each of the pixel units is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-optic effect: Electro-Optic Effects

Data Source

PatentUS7719649B2Liquid crystal display panel

Publication Date: 2010.05.18 AU OPTRONICS CORP

AI summary

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The active device array substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixel units. The scan lines, the data lines and the pixel units are disposed on the substrate. Each of the pixel units is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines correspondingly and crosses over two sides of the corresponding scan line. The opposite substrate includes a plurality of alignment protrusions. The alignment protrusions are located over the scan lines. Besides, the liquid crystal layer is disposed between the opposite substrate and the active device array substrate. The above-mentioned liquid crystal display panel has higher aperture ratio.