Underlying Metal Groove Interconnect Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid crystal display devices, the alignment film material leaks into the seal region due to surface tension, causing insufficient sealing and potential short circuits between interconnects, especially when a groove is formed along the outer perimeter without a conductive film, leading to conduction issues or exposure of interconnects to corrosion.
Innovation Solution
A groove is formed on the first substrate's interconnects extending along the substrate's outer perimeter, with underlying metal provided below the groove to prevent alignment film material from leaking and ensure the interconnects are not exposed, while a rib on the second substrate further reduces leakage, maintaining the integrity of the seal and preventing short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a groove is formed along the outer perimeter without a conductive film, then alignment film material leakage is reduced, but interconnects are exposed to corrosion and short circuits may occur
Solution Approach 1:
An underlying metal layer is introduced as an intermediary protective structure between the groove and the interconnects. This underlying metal prevents direct exposure of interconnects to corrosive environments while maintaining the groove's sealing function, thus resolving the contradiction between leakage prevention and corrosion protection
2Length of stationary object
If the non-display region is small, then picture-frame is narrow, but alignment film material flows into the sealing member region
Solution Approach 1:
A groove structure is formed in advance along the outer perimeter of the display region to create a physical barrier that prevents alignment film material from flowing into the sealing member region. This preliminary structural preparation allows the use of smaller non-display regions without compromising sealing integrity
3Productivity
If inkjet printing is used to form the alignment film, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but alignment film material spreads into surrounding regions
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure serves as a physical barrier (intermediary) that contains the alignment film material within the display region during inkjet printing. This allows the use of inkjet printing's efficient deposition method while preventing the material spread issue through the groove's confining effect
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 effectively reduces alignment film material leakage, narrows the picture-frame, and enhances the display device's endurance by preventing short circuits and corrosion, while allowing for simultaneous formation of the underlying metal with existing manufacturing steps.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid resin material which is the alignment film material has a low wettability to the ITO film. Therefore, this configuration allows the groove portion to reduce or prevent the liquid resin material from wetting and spreading
Implementation Method 2
an insulating film being interposed between the first and second groups of interconnects
Data Source
AI summary
A groove is formed above a first group of interconnects of a first substrate, continuously extending along a substrate outer perimeter portion and across the first group of interconnects. An underlying metal is provided in the same layer in which a second group of interconnects are provided, below the groove in at least regions in which the groove overlaps the first group of interconnects as viewed from above.