Vertical Alignment Display Device with Micro Slit Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices have a narrow viewing angle and decreased manufacturing efficiency due to additional processes required for aligning liquid crystal molecules and interference between molecules with different pretilt directions, leading to uncontrolled regions that reduce light transmittance and brightness.
Innovation Solution
A display device with vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules, pretilted by alignment layers on the pixel and common electrodes, which include micro slits to form domains and are photo-sensitively aligned, reducing the need for additional manufacturing steps and minimizing interference between liquid crystal molecules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cut-off patterns are formed on common electrode and pixel electrode to align liquid crystal molecules in PVA mode, then liquid crystal alignment is achieved, but manufacturing process complexity increases due to additional manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the need for cut-off patterns on the common electrode by using only pixel electrode patterns and alignment layers to achieve liquid crystal alignment. This removes the additional manufacturing steps required for forming cut-off patterns while maintaining effective domain formation and molecular alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel electrode patterns serve multiple functions: they define pixel boundaries, create domains through micro slits, and work with alignment layers to control liquid crystal orientation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cut-off patterns on the common electrode, simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Manufacturing precision
If additional manufacturing processes are used to align liquid crystal molecules in VA and PVA modes, then liquid crystal alignment is improved, but manufacturing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the additional manufacturing processes for forming cut-off patterns on the common electrode, reducing the total number of manufacturing steps. This extraction of unnecessary processes directly improves manufacturing efficiency while maintaining alignment precision through the simplified pixel electrode pattern and alignment layer approach.
3Adaptability or versatility
If liquid crystal molecules are aligned in different pretilt directions in multiple domains, then viewing angle is improved, but uncontrolled regions appear due to interference and collisions between molecules
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different pretilt directions to different domains through pixel electrode patterns and alignment layers, optimizing viewing angle for each domain. The micro slits in the pixel electrode create distinct domains with controlled pretilt directions, while preventing interference between domains through proper geometric design.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel electrode is divided into multiple domains using micro slits, with each domain having a specific pretilt direction. This segmentation prevents interference and collisions between liquid crystal molecules in different domains by creating clear boundaries, thus maintaining control stability while achieving wide viewing angles.
4Shape
If cut-off patterns are formed on electrodes to create domains, then domain formation is achieved, but manufacturing time increases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention eliminates the need for cut-off pattern formation on the common electrode, removing an entire manufacturing step. Domain formation is achieved through pixel electrode patterns and alignment layers alone, significantly reducing manufacturing time while maintaining effective domain structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The functions of domain formation and liquid crystal alignment are merged into a single integrated approach using pixel electrode patterns with micro slits and alignment layers. This combination eliminates the need for separate cut-off pattern formation, reducing manufacturing time while achieving both domain formation and alignment simultaneously.
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 enhances viewing angle, display characteristics, and manufacturing efficiency by stabilizing liquid crystal molecule alignment and reducing collisions, thereby improving light transmittance and brightness.
Implementation Method 1
the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer may include a photo sensitive polymer and the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer may be formed by photo irradiation
Implementation Method 2
a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first panel and the second panel, the liquid crystal layer having vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules
Data Source
AI summary
A display device includes: a first panel having a pixel region including a pixel electrode therein; a second panel having a common electrode facing the first panel; a liquid crystal layer having vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules interposed between the first and second panels; a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode; and a second alignment layer disposed on the common electrode. At least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode has a micro slit pattern. At least one of the first and second alignment layers divides the pixel region into domains, is formed to have pretilt directions corresponding to a given domain, and pretilts the vertically aligned liquid crystal molecules in the given domain. A direction of summed horizontal components of a fringe field at an edge of the pixel region is substantially equal to a direction of summed horizontal components of a pretilt direction of the at least one of the first and second alignment layer.