Transflective Liquid Crystal Device Spacer Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal devices with a horizontal electric field system, the softness of the embedded retardation film makes it difficult to form spacers and leads to thickness non-uniformity of the alignment layer, causing line display non-uniformity and potential dissolution of retardation layer ingredients into the liquid crystal layer, which deteriorates display quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid crystal device with a transflective type horizontal electric field system where the spacer is positioned on the second substrate side, not overlapping with the retardation layer, and a protection layer with slits is used to prevent alignment layer flow and ingredient dissolution, ensuring even thickness and improved display quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the embedded retardation film is provided in the reflective display area, then the liquid crystal layer thickness can be reduced in that area, but it becomes difficult to form spacers on the soft retardation film and the spacer cannot function properly
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is segmented into reflective display areas and transmissive display areas. Spacers are selectively formed only in the transmissive display areas where the substrate surface is hard and flat, while the reflective display areas contain only the liquid crystal layer with reduced thickness. This segmentation allows spacers to function properly in transmissive areas without interfering with the retardation film structure in reflective areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different structural qualities are applied to different regions: the transmissive display areas have a hard, flat substrate surface suitable for spacer formation, while the reflective display areas have a soft retardation film surface unsuitable for spacers. This local differentiation allows each region to have the optimal structure for its intended function.
2Manufacturing precision
If the embedded retardation film is formed in a raised manner in the reflective display area, then the liquid crystal layer thickness can be controlled, but a step is formed between display areas causing alignment layer flow and thickness non-uniformity
Solution Approach 1:
The display area is segmented into reflective and transmissive regions. The raised retardation film structure is confined to reflective display areas, while transmissive display areas maintain a flat substrate surface. This segmentation prevents alignment layer flow from reaching transmissive areas, ensuring uniform alignment layer thickness in those regions while still achieving precise liquid crystal layer thickness control in reflective areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment layer serves as an intermediary that is applied uniformly across both reflective and transmissive areas. In transmissive areas, it forms a uniform thin layer on the flat substrate. In reflective areas, it conforms to the raised retardation film structure, allowing the alignment layer to bridge the structural difference between the two region types without causing thickness non-uniformity in the final display.
3Measurement precision
If the alignment layer thickness is thin to achieve precise alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but ingredients of the retardation film can dissolve into the liquid crystal layer through the alignment layer
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful interaction between the retardation film and liquid crystal layer is eliminated by extracting the alignment layer from the reflective display areas where the raised retardation film is located. By confining the alignment layer to transmissive display areas only, the pathway for ingredient dissolution is removed, allowing thin alignment layers to be used in transmissive areas for precise alignment without the risk of contamination in reflective areas.
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 solution allows for the effective placement of spacers without interfering with the retardation layer, preventing thickness non-uniformity and ingredient flow, thereby enhancing display quality by maintaining even alignment layer thickness and preventing display deterioration.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid crystal layer in the reflective display area gives a retardation of 1/4 wavelength and the liquid crystal layer in the transmissive display area gives a retardation of 1/2 wavelength
Implementation Method 2
a second electrode for generating an electric field between with the first electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid crystal device in which a horizontal electric field is applied to a liquid crystal layer of a transflective type. Spacers are disposed to set a distance between substrates and to prevent deterioration of display quality by eliminating thickness non-uniformity of an alignment layer due to the presence of a retardation layer. Slits are provided in the retardation layer regions to prevent deterioration of display quality by preventing dissolution and flow of an ingredient of the retardation layer to the liquid crystal layer side through the alignment layers.