LCD Substrate Patterned Protrusion Alignment for Light Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional LCD devices experience light leakage due to different alignment orientations of liquid crystal molecules near photo-spacers, leading to low contrast ratio and reduced display quality, which is partially mitigated by additional black matrix areas that also decrease aperture and luminance.
Innovation Solution
A substrate structure with a patterned protrusion structure on a transparent substrate to divide pixel regions, where an alignment layer is formed within each pixel region using inkjet printing, and the surface of the protrusion structure is physically treated to modify liquid crystal molecule orientations, ensuring different orientations between the protrusion structure and the alignment layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an additional black matrix area is provided to shield light leakage near photo-spacers, then light leakage is reduced, but aperture and display luminance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different alignment orientations to different regions: vertical orientation in the pixel region and horizontal orientation on the photo-spacer sidewalls. This local differentiation eliminates the need for additional black matrix areas while preventing light leakage, as the horizontal alignment on photo-spacers naturally guides liquid crystal molecules to prevent leakage without blocking aperture.
2Ease of manufacture
If the alignment layer conformably covers photo-spacers providing uniform orientation, then manufacturing is simplified, but light leakage occurs due to horizontal orientation on photo-spacer sidewalls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates different alignment orientations in different regions by controlling the alignment layer formation. The pixel region maintains vertical orientation while the photo-spacer sidewalls receive horizontal orientation through the alignment layer's conformal coverage. This local differentiation resolves the light leakage issue while keeping the manufacturing process simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to prevent light leakage by blocking it with black matrix areas, the patent inverts the approach by using the alignment layer to actively guide liquid crystal molecules to horizontal orientation on photo-spacer sidewalls, which naturally prevents light leakage through proper molecular alignment.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If photo-catalyst mask is used to induce hydrophilic radicals near photo-spacers, then light leakage is ameliorated, but fabrication complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the photo-catalyst mask step from the fabrication process and replaces it with a direct alignment layer formation method. By forming the alignment layer directly on the substrate and photo-spacers without requiring photo-catalyst masks, the patent eliminates the complex photochemical reaction steps while achieving the same light leakage prevention through physical alignment control.
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 unifies liquid crystal molecule orientations, reducing light leakage while maintaining high contrast ratio and aperture, thus enhancing display quality without the need for additional black matrix areas.
Implementation Method 1
the surface of the protrusion structure is physically treated to modify the orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the protrusion structure
Implementation Method 2
the surface of the protrusion structure is physically treated to modify the orientations of liquid crystal molecules
Data Source
AI summary
Substrate structures for liquid crystal display devices and methods of fabricating liquid crystal display devices. A substrate structure for the liquid crystal display device comprises a transparent substrate. A patterned protrusion structure is formed to divide a plurality of pixel regions. An alignment layer is filled on the transparent substrate of each pixel region, wherein alignment orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the patterned protrusion structure and on the alignment layer are different.