Liquid Crystal Terminal Structure for Reliable Electrical Connection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal devices, particularly in FFS mode, the formation of terminals for connection with mounting components is challenging due to issues of poor adhesion and electrical reliability, especially when deep through-holes are involved, leading to potential contact failures and reduced aperture ratios.
Innovation Solution
The configuration includes a terminal structure with a terminal body portion made of the same material as the signal wiring, covered by a terminal insulating film and a terminal electrode portion made of the same material as the second electrode, which generates an electric field through slits, ensuring good conduction and high anti-corrosion by eliminating the need for a planarizing film in the terminal region and using the electrode insulating film as a passivation layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a planarizing film is formed over the terminal region to maintain flatness, then surface uniformity is improved, but adhesion and electrical reliability deteriorate due to deep through-hole formation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the planarizing film from the terminal region, allowing the terminal to be formed directly on the substrate without requiring deep through-holes through the planarizing film. This eliminates the adhesion and electrical reliability problems associated with deep hole formation while maintaining flatness in the display region where the planarizing film is still applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different structural configurations to different regions: the planarizing film is maintained in the display region to ensure surface flatness for liquid crystal alignment, while it is removed in the terminal region to ensure good adhesion and electrical conductivity. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall flatness and terminal reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If terminal connections are formed through deep through-holes in the planarizing film, then connection area is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases due to deep hole formation and poor adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the planarizing film in the terminal region, the patent eliminates the need to form deep through-holes through multiple film layers. The terminal can be directly connected to the underlying conductive layers, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process and improving adhesion while maintaining or increasing the effective connection area.
3Area of stationary object
If the terminal region includes the planarizing film, then aperture ratio decreases due to light blocking, but structural uniformity is improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a local exception in the terminal region by removing the planarizing film, allowing light to pass through uninterrupted and increasing the aperture ratio. The rest of the display region maintains the planarizing film for structural uniformity and proper liquid crystal alignment. This localized structural differentiation simultaneously achieves both goals.
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 configuration enhances electrical reliability and anti-corrosion of the terminal connections, reduces unevenness, and simplifies the connection process, ensuring good conduction and a larger connection area while preventing corrosion, thus improving the overall performance of the liquid crystal device.
Implementation Method 1
the second electrode generates an electric field that passes through the slits between the first electrode and the second electrode
Implementation Method 2
the liquid crystal is rotated within a plane that is substantially parallel to the substrate using the electric field
Implementation Method 3
The terminal insulating film is formed on the terminal body portion so as to cover a side face of the terminal body portion... ensuring good conduction and high anti-corrosion
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, liquid crystal, a switching element, a signal wiring, a planarizing film, a first electrode, an electrode insulating film, a second electrode, and a terminal. The terminal is provided at least in a portion of a region on the first substrate in which the planarizing film is not formed. The terminal includes a terminal body portion, a terminal insulating film, and a terminal electrode portion. The terminal body portion is made of the same material as that of the signal wiring. The terminal insulating film is made of the same material as that of the electrode insulating film. The terminal electrode portion is made of the same material as that of the second electrode. The terminal electrode portion is electrically connected to the terminal body portion through the opening region.