Touch-Panel LCD Spacer Design for Rigidity and Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
In touch-panel liquid-crystal display devices, the height difference between gap column spacers and push column spacers complicates exposure processes, leads to foreign substance generation during alignment layer printing, and hinders optimal liquid crystal adjustment, affecting image quality and panel rigidity.
Innovation Solution
The gap column spacer and push column spacer are designed to have the same height, with the gap column spacer located on a metal line, allowing for uniform exposure and adjustment of liquid crystals, and the push column spacer is spaced apart but moves onto the metal line under external force, enhancing panel rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gap column spacer and push column spacer are formed to have different heights, then the gap column spacer can maintain contact with the thin-film transistor array substrate while the push column spacer remains spaced apart, but uniform adjustment and management of the height difference are difficult during the exposure process
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the column spacer structure into two separate components: a gap column spacer that contacts the thin-film transistor array substrate to maintain gap stability, and a push column spacer that remains spaced apart to detect touch input. This segmentation allows each spacer to perform its specific function independently while simplifying the exposure process by eliminating the need to manage height differences between them.
2Reliability
If the gap column spacer and push column spacer have different heights, then each spacer can perform its specific function, but foreign substances may be generated due to the height difference during alignment layer printing
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the column spacer into two separate spacers with the same height, the invention eliminates the height difference that causes foreign substance generation during alignment layer printing. Each segmented spacer maintains its specific function while the uniform height prevents printing defects.
3Reliability
If the gap column spacer and push column spacer have different heights, then the spacers can be positioned at different levels, but it is impossible or difficult to adjust the optimum amount of liquid crystals when the liquid crystals are disposed
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented spacer design with uniform height allows for precise control of the liquid crystal layer thickness. The gap column spacer maintains a stable reference level for liquid crystal filling, while the push column spacer's consistent height ensures uniform liquid crystal distribution, enabling precise adjustment of the optimum liquid crystal amount.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a touch panel is separately stacked on the liquid crystal display device, then the touch sensing function is achieved, but the overall thickness increases and light transmission efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the touch panel structure with the liquid crystal display device by integrating the push column spacer and gap column spacer into a unified design. The push column spacer serves dual functions: maintaining the gap structure and detecting touch input, thereby eliminating the need for a separate stacked touch panel and reducing overall thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The push column spacer is designed to perform multiple functions: it maintains the structural gap between substrates and simultaneously serves as a touch sensing element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall device thickness while maintaining touch sensing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A touch-panel liquid-crystal display device in one embodiment includes a metal line formed on a thin-film transistor array substrate, a gap column spacer and a push column spacer on a portion of a color filter array substrate that corresponds to an intersection of gate and data lines of the thin-film transistor array substrate, and a liquid-crystal layer between the thin-film transistor array substrate and the color filter array substrate. The gap column spacer and the push column spacer have the same height and the gap column spacer is located on the metal line, which facilitates an exposure process, minimizes generation of foreign substances when printing an alignment layer, and enables adjustment of the optimum amount of liquid crystals when liquid-crystal dotting is performed. The push column spacer is located on the metal line when the device can be pushed or bent by external force, and thus increases panel rigidity.