LCD Spacer Lattice for Substrate Misalignment Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal display devices face issues where spacers can squeeze out of the light-shielding region due to substrate misalignment, potentially damaging orientation films and elements in the opening region, which complicates high-definition image display.
Innovation Solution
The liquid crystal display device employs a lattice-form light-shielding region with intersecting spacer sections on both substrates, oriented in different directions, ensuring overlap and support even with substrate misalignment, thereby reducing spacer damage to films and elements in the opening region without enlarging the light-shielding region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light-shielding region is expanded to prevent spacer from squeezing out, then the reliability is improved, but the opening region area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding region is segmented into multiple extended portions (first extended portions and second extended portions) that intersect to form a lattice structure. This segmentation allows the spacer to be contained at the intersection points without requiring a continuous expanded light-shielding region, thus maintaining opening region area while improving spacer containment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a one-dimensional linear spacer arrangement to a two-dimensional lattice structure formed by intersecting extended portions. This dimensional change creates multiple containment points (intersections) that effectively trap the spacer without requiring uniform expansion of the light-shielding region, resolving the contradiction between reliability and area.
2Manufacturing precision
If the spacer is arranged to coincide with the light-shielding region, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the spacer may damage films and elements when substrates misalign
Solution Approach 1:
The lattice structure of extended portions creates a cushioning effect by providing a distributed network of containment points. When substrate misalignment occurs, the spacer is contained at intersections rather than being forced into opening regions, preventing damage to films and elements while maintaining simple spacer positioning during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding region is given different local qualities through the extended portions that extend in different directions. The intersection points have enhanced containment capability compared to regular regions, allowing the spacer to be safely contained at specific locations without requiring uniform structural reinforcement across the entire device.
3Device complexity
If a single-direction spacer arrangement is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the spacer may still squeeze out when substrates bend
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer arrangement uses asymmetry in the lattice structure with extended portions extending in different directions (first direction and second direction). This asymmetric cross-directional arrangement provides multi-directional containment capability, preventing spacer squeeze-out due to substrate bending while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the regular lattice pattern.
Data Source
AI summary
Liquid crystal display device is provided and includes first substrate having a first surface; second substrate having second surface opposed to and spaced from first surface; liquid crystal layer disposed between first and second surfaces, signal lines extending in parallel including first signal line; and spacers protruding from second surface to first surface, spacers including first spacer and second spacer adjacent to first spacer, wherein spacers overlap signal lines, first and second spacers overlap first signal line, and arrangement of spacers on one signal line is staggered, such that: center of first spacer shifts to right side of first signal line; and center of second spacer shifts to left side of first signal line.