Single-Substrate Liquid Crystal Display with Pixel Electrode Passivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid crystal displays require two substrates, leading to increased thickness, manufacturing costs, and longer processing times due to the complexity of forming multiple components on separate panels.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal display design utilizing a single substrate with a reference electrode, thin film transistor, pixel electrode, light blocking member, color filter, micro cavity, and liquid crystal material, where the pixel electrode passivation layer and overcoat are formed to reduce the number of manufacturing steps and prevent moisture corrosion, using a silicon nitride or silicon oxide layer to cover the light blocking member and pixel electrode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two substrates are used for liquid crystal display, then the display can be manufactured with conventional processes, but the display becomes heavy and thick
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components that were previously fabricated on separate substrates into a single substrate structure. The pixel electrode, light blocking member, color filter, and common electrode are all integrated on one substrate, eliminating the need for a separate counter substrate and reducing overall display weight and thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The single substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the common electrode substrate, supports the pixel electrode structure, provides the color filter layer, and forms the light blocking members. This multi-functional integration replaces the traditional two-substrate architecture where each substrate had specialized functions.
2Reliability
If two substrates are used for liquid crystal display, then the display can be manufactured with conventional processes, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple components into a single substrate fabrication process, the patent reduces the number of substrate handling steps, alignment operations, and bonding processes required. This integration simplifies the manufacturing workflow and reduces overall production costs despite the increased complexity of the single substrate structure.
3Reliability
If two substrates are used for liquid crystal display, then the display can be manufactured with conventional processes, but the process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple fabrication steps into a single substrate processing sequence. By forming the pixel electrode, light blocking members, color filter, and common electrode on one substrate in a sequential manner, the patent eliminates the time-consuming steps of manufacturing, aligning, and bonding two separate substrates, thereby reducing total process time and improving manufacturing efficiency.
4Ease of manufacture
If pixel electrode is exposed without passivation, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the pixel electrode becomes susceptible to moisture corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel electrode passivation layer acts as an intermediary protective barrier between the pixel electrode and the external environment. This thin film layer prevents moisture and oxygen from reaching the pixel electrode, thereby preventing corrosion and degradation while maintaining the electrical functionality of the electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the pixel electrode passivation layer in advance to prevent moisture corrosion before it can occur. This preventive measure protects the pixel electrode throughout the device's operational life, ensuring long-term reliability without requiring complex protective structures or maintenance.
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 simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the number of masks needed and prevents pixel electrode corrosion, resulting in a more cost-effective and efficient single-substrate liquid crystal display with improved durability.
Implementation Method 1
the pixel electrode passivation layer and the light blocking member may be disposed on the thin film transistor
Implementation Method 2
A voltage is applied to the electric field generating electrodes such as pixel electrodes, common electrodes, and the like, to generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer, thereby determining alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer and controlling polarization of incident light to display an image
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate; a reference electrode disposed on the substrate; a reference electrode passivation layer disposed on the reference electrode; a thin film transistor disposed on the reference electrode passivation layer; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a pixel electrode passivation layer disposed on a portion of the pixel electrode; a light blocking member disposed on the pixel electrode passivation layer; a color filter disposed so as to face the pixel electrode; a micro cavity disposed between the pixel electrode and the color filter; and a liquid crystal material disposed in the micro cavity.