Outer Spacer Barrier Prevents Liquid Crystal Pollution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal display panels, the liquid crystal can become polluted by particles from an incompletely hardened seal line, leading to boundary spots and degraded display quality due to premature contact between the liquid crystal and the seal line.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating spacers in the peripheral area, specifically inner and outer spacers arranged on the substrates to prevent liquid crystal migration and contact with the seal line, thereby preventing pollution and maintaining display quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid crystal is dropped onto the substrate and allowed to spread naturally, then the liquid crystal layer is formed efficiently, but the liquid crystal contacts the incompletely hardened seal line and becomes polluted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a barrier structure (seal line extension or protrusion) that acts as an intermediary between the liquid crystal and the incompletely hardened seal line. This barrier prevents direct contact and pollution while allowing the liquid crystal to spread naturally to form the liquid crystal layer, thus resolving the contradiction between formation efficiency and pollution prevention.
2Reliability
If the seal line is applied early to confine the liquid crystal, then the liquid crystal is contained properly, but the seal line is incompletely hardened when the liquid crystal contacts it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the seal line early in the manufacturing process to establish proper liquid crystal confinement before the liquid crystal is dropped. The seal line is then allowed to harden completely (through UV irradiation or other hardening methods) before the liquid crystal is introduced, ensuring that the seal line is fully hardened and non-polluting when contact occurs. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction between early confinement and hardening completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the seal line structure into multiple parts: the main seal line for confinement and an extended barrier portion that prevents liquid crystal from reaching the incompletely hardened seal line. This segmentation allows the main seal line to provide reliable confinement while the extended portion protects against pollution during the hardening process.
3Speed
If the liquid crystal is dropped as dense droplets, then the liquid crystal spreads out to form the layer quickly, but the liquid crystal migrates outward toward the seal line
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a physical barrier (seal line extension or protrusion) that acts as an intermediary to block the outward migration of liquid crystal droplets. This barrier allows the liquid crystal to spread quickly to form the layer while preventing migration beyond the designated area, thus resolving the contradiction between spreading speed and position stability.
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
The spacers effectively block liquid crystal from moving outward and contacting the partially hardened seal line, preventing pollution and ensuring improved display quality by maintaining the integrity of the liquid crystal layer.
Implementation Method 1
The inner spacers and the outer spacers are attached to a surface of a printing roller when the printing roller is rotated on the printing plate. Then, the inner spacers and the outer spacers are arranged on the first substrate when the printing roller is rotated on the first substrate.
Data Source
AI summary
A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a seal line and an outer spacer. The first substrate includes a display area on which a plurality of thin film transistors are formed, and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The seal line is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate in the peripheral area to confine the liquid crystal between the first and second substrates. The outer spacers are disposed in the peripheral area, and inwardly spaced apart from the seal line by a separation distance thereby preventing liquid crystal from being polluted by particles of an uncured seal line during manufacturing.