Liquid Crystal Display Spacer Grouping for Bubble Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid crystal display devices face issues with uneven display quality due to irreversible substrate deformation and the occurrence of low temperature bubbles caused by differential thermal shrinkage between liquid crystals and substrates, especially when spacers are densely packed.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves grouping spacers linearly in close proximity to form units with a lower density distribution, allowing for increased substrate strength and pressure resistance while preventing low temperature bubbles by allocating a larger area for spacer absent regions, and using photosensitive resin materials like black pigment-containing ones for enhanced elasticity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If spacers are disposed with high density in the display region, then pressure resistance to external forces is enhanced, but low temperature bubbles occur due to insufficient liquid crystal gap shrinkage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidlow temperature bubbles

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spacers are segmented into groups where multiple spacers are linearly disposed in close proximity to form spacer groups. This segmentation allows the spacers to work collectively to enhance pressure resistance while maintaining sufficient liquid crystal gap shrinkage capability through appropriate spacing between groups, preventing low temperature bubble formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the display device have different spacer configurations. Spacer groups are disposed at specific intervals in the display region with controlled density, while allowing larger spacer-absent regions. This local quality variation enables pressure resistance where needed while preventing bubble formation in critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If spacers are disposed with low density in the display region, then low temperature bubbles are suppressed, but substrate deformation occurs beyond elastic range under external forces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelow temperature bubblesVSAvoidpressure resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spacers are merged into linear groups disposed in close proximity, creating spacer groups that function as unified structural elements. This merging provides enhanced pressure resistance through collective support while the spacing between groups maintains sufficient shrinkage capability to prevent bubble formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spacer group configuration allows dynamic response to temperature changes. The linear arrangement with specific intervals enables the liquid crystal layer to shrink sufficiently at low temperatures while the groups provide structural support under external forces, adapting to different operational conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform density spacers are disposed throughout the display region, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but both pressure resistance and bubble prevention cannot be optimized simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespacer disposition uniformityVSAvoiddisplay quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniform spacer distribution, the invention implements local quality variation by creating spacer groups with specific linear arrangements and intervals. This non-uniform configuration optimizes both pressure resistance and bubble prevention while remaining compatible with photolithographic manufacturing processes through controlled pattern design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 secures pressure resistance to external forces and prevents low temperature bubbles by allowing extensive substrate deformation and sufficient liquid crystal layer shrinkage, even in cold environments, thereby maintaining display quality.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal expansion coefficient of liquid crystals is one digit higher than those of other components, a thermal shrinkage of the liquid crystals, and those of substrates and spacer components are different to a large extent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal shrinkage: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 2

photosensitive resin is used for a material of the spacers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS7545475B2Liquid crystal display device having particular interval between spacer groups

Publication Date: 2009.06.09 MAGNOLIA WHITE CORP

AI summary

To suppress occurrence of low temperature bubbles while securing pressure resistance to external forces applied to substrates of a liquid crystal display device, a plurality of spacers disposed between the substrates are divided into a plurality of spacer groups 2, one unit of which is configured with spacers 2a, 2b allocated in close proximity to each other; and the spacer groups 2 are disposed with a density that the low temperature bubbles do not occur. Hence, the strength of the substrates increases, and in a region 10 where no spacers exist, a large deformation of the substrates by shrinkage is allowed, and a liquid crystal layer 8 is sufficiently enough shrunk even under a low temperature environment to prevent the low temperature bubbles from occurring.