LCD Spacer Layout for Opening Region Protection and Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid crystal display devices face issues where spacers can misalign and damage films or elements in the opening region due to substrate bending, leading to light leakage and difficulty in displaying high-definition images.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of intersecting spacer sections on the array and opposed substrates, oriented in different directions, ensures alignment and prevents 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 into the opening region, then the reliability is improved, but the area of the opening region decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The single light-shielding region is segmented into multiple light-shielding regions arranged in a matrix pattern. Each light-shielding region contains spacers at its corners, distributing the spacer support function across multiple locations rather than relying on one large expanded region. This segmentation allows the opening regions to maintain larger area while spacers are still protected at each segmented light-shielding location.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-shielding regions are positioned asymmetrically at the corners of opening regions rather than uniformly distributed. This asymmetric placement optimizes the protection of spacers at critical locations where substrate bending most likely causes misalignment, while minimizing the total area occupied by light-shielding regions and maximizing opening region area.
2Device complexity
If a single type of spacer is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing spacer damage to films and elements decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer system is segmented into two distinct types: first spacers with long sides in a first direction and second spacers with long sides in a second direction. This segmentation allows each spacer type to be optimized for specific orientation needs, improving reliability of alignment while the overall system remains relatively simple with only two spacer types rather than more complex multi-component systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second spacers are combined in a complementary arrangement where they intersect to form rectangular patterns. This merging of two simple spacer types creates a robust alignment system that prevents substrate bending damage more effectively than a single spacer type, while avoiding the complexity of using multiple different spacer designs.
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.