KR102119698B1 - Curved Liquid Crystal Display Device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention, the first substrate and the second substrate having a curvature along the first direction, the seal pattern formed on the edge between the first and second substrate, and within the seal pattern between the first and second substrate It includes a liquid crystal layer located, the seal pattern includes a first, second, third and fourth pattern, the first and third patterns correspond to the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The second and fourth patterns correspond to the first direction, and the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns is smaller than that of the first and third patterns.

Description

Curved liquid crystal display device

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly to a curved liquid crystal display device.

With the development of the information society, the demand for display devices for displaying images is increasing in various forms, liquid crystal display devices (LCD devices), plasma display panel devices (PDP devices), Various flat panel display devices (FPD devices) such as organic light emitting diode devices (OLED devices) have been widely developed and applied to various fields.

Among these flat panel display devices, liquid crystal display devices are widely used because they have advantages such as miniaturization, light weight, thinness, and low power driving.

In general, a liquid crystal display device utilizes optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystals, and includes a liquid crystal layer between two substrates, and a pixel electrode and a common electrode for driving liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer. Accordingly, the liquid crystal display device causes the liquid crystal molecules to move by the electric field generated by applying voltage to the pixel electrode and the common electrode, thereby expressing the image by the transmittance of the light. The liquid crystal display device is variously applied from portable devices such as mobile phones and multimedia devices to laptops or computer monitors and large televisions.

However, a liquid crystal display device as a flat panel display device has a problem that a distance deviation occurs from a main viewing area of a viewer to a display screen according to a position.

This will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a view schematically showing a general liquid crystal display device.

As shown in FIG. 1, since the liquid crystal display device 10 is manufactured in a flat shape, the first distance d1 from the main viewing area of the viewer to the central area of the liquid crystal display device 10 and the liquid crystal from the main viewing area The second distances d2 to both left and right regions of the display device 10 are different. That is, the second distance d2 is greater than the first distance d1, and a distance deviation from the main viewing area to the display screen of the liquid crystal display 10 occurs.

The problem of the distance deviation appears larger as the screen of the liquid crystal display 10 becomes larger, and accordingly, the immersion degree of the image displayed through the liquid crystal display 10 decreases.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a curved liquid crystal display device capable of solving a distance deviation problem.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a first substrate and a second substrate having a curvature along the first direction, a seal pattern formed on the edge between the first and second substrates, and the first and second A liquid crystal layer positioned in the seal pattern between the substrates, the seal pattern includes first, second, third and fourth patterns, and the first and third patterns are perpendicular to the first direction Curved liquid crystal, characterized in that it corresponds to the second direction, the second and fourth patterns correspond to the first direction, and the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns is smaller than that of the first and third patterns. A display device is provided.

The elongation rates of the second and fourth patterns are greater than those of the first and third patterns.

The widths of the second and fourth patterns are smaller than the widths of the first and third patterns.

The width of the first and third patterns is three times the width of the second and fourth patterns.

The liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are initially arranged parallel to the second direction.

The first direction corresponds to the long sides of the first and second substrates, and the second direction corresponds to the short sides of the first and second substrates.

By providing a curved liquid crystal display device, the present invention can prevent a deviation between a distance from a main viewing area to a central area of the display device and a distance to both regions. Therefore, there is an effect that can improve the immersion of viewers.

In addition, by making the seal pattern in the curved direction have a larger or narrower elongation than the seal pattern in the direction perpendicular to the curved direction, it is possible to reduce the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules by relaxing the stress in the curved direction, thereby reducing light leakage. It has the effect of improving.

In addition, since an annealing process is not required, manufacturing time and cost can be reduced.

1 is a view schematically showing a general liquid crystal display device.
2 is a view schematically showing a curved liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing light leakage generated in the curved liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved liquid crystal display device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a schematic plan view of a curved liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
6A is a view showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the first substrate at one corner of the curved liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a curved surface according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the second substrate at one corner of the liquid crystal display, and FIG. 6C is a view showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules of FIGS. 6A and 6B together.
7 is a schematic plan view of a curved liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
8A is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the first substrate at one corner of the curved liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a curved surface according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 8A and 8B are views showing the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the second substrate at one corner of the liquid crystal display device.
9A and 9B are plan views schematically showing a manufacturing process of a seal pattern according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a schematic plan view of a curved liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
11A is a view showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the first substrate at one corner of the curved liquid crystal display according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a curved surface according to the third embodiment of the present invention It is a diagram showing the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the second substrate at one corner of the liquid crystal display, and FIG. 11C is a view showing the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules of FIGS. 11A and 11B together.
12 is a plan view schematically showing a manufacturing process of a seal pattern according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention that can solve the above problems will be described with reference to the drawings.

-First Embodiment-

2 is a view schematically showing a curved liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2, the curved liquid crystal display 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a curved shape. That is, the flat display device is curved at a constant curvature relative to the center to form a curved surface.

Therefore, the first distance d11 from the main viewing area of the viewer to the central area of the curved liquid crystal display device 100 and the second distance d12 from the main viewing area to the left and right sides of the curved liquid crystal display device 100 are Since it is substantially the same, the problem of distance deviation in the conventional flat panel display device is solved and the immersion of viewers is improved.

However, the curved liquid crystal display device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention artificially forms a curvature, so that light leakage occurs at four corners as shown in FIG. 3.

The light leakage will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6C.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a curved liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the curved liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 5, the curved liquid crystal display device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate 110, a second substrate 120, and first and second substrates. It includes a liquid crystal layer 130 between (110, 120). A seal pattern 140 is formed at edges between the first and second substrates 110 and 120.

In FIG. 5, the first and second substrates 110 and 120 have the same area and are completely overlapped, so that the first substrate 110 may not be exposed, but for convenience, the first substrate 110 is exposed. . Alternatively, the first substrate 110 may have a larger area than the second substrate 120.

The seal pattern 140 is formed to surround the display area on the first substrate 110 or the second substrate 120 to join the first and second substrates 110 and 120, and the two substrates 110 and 120 A sealed space is formed between the two layers to prevent leakage of the liquid crystal layer 130. The seal pattern 140 has a uniform width w1 in the horizontal and vertical directions, and a heat-curable or photo-curable material may be used as a material for the seal pattern 140.

Although not shown, on the inner surface of the first substrate 110, a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel formed in the pixel area and connected to the thin film transistor An electrode and a common electrode generating an electric field are formed together with the pixel electrode. The first substrate 110 is referred to as an array substrate.

In addition, although not illustrated, a black matrix and a color filter layer may be formed on the inner surface of the second substrate 120. The black matrix is positioned corresponding to the gate wiring, the data wiring, and the thin film transistor and has an opening corresponding to the pixel region and blocks light outside the pixel region. The color filter layer corresponds to the opening of the black matrix, and includes red, green, and blue color filters sequentially arranged, and one color filter corresponds to one pixel area. The second substrate 120 is referred to as a color filter substrate.

Meanwhile, first and second alignment layers (not shown) having alignment axes in a predetermined direction are formed on the top layers of the first substrate 110 and the inner surfaces of the second substrate 120, respectively, to form the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 130. Determine the initial arrangement. Here, the alignment axes of the first and second alignment layers are parallel to the short sides of the substrates 110 and 120.

In addition, first and second polarizing plates (not shown) are disposed on outer surfaces of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120, respectively, and the optical transmission axis of the first polarizing plate is perpendicular to the optical transmission axis of the second polarizing plate. Is placed.

The curved liquid crystal display device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is transformed from a planar state to a curved state. As an example, the curved liquid crystal display device 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention applies a force artificially to implement a curved surface in a horizontal direction, that is, a long side direction, so that a flat display device is disposed along the horizontal direction. 2 to bend at a constant curvature toward the substrate 120, so as to have a curved surface shape.

However, since the edges of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are bonded by the seal pattern 140, the behavior of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 against bending is changed.

That is, in the curved liquid crystal display device 100, tensile stress is applied to the first substrate 110 on the outer side that is bent along the transverse direction, and along the transverse direction to the second substrate 120 on the inside that is bent. Compressive stress is applied. However, since the edges of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are fixed by the seal pattern 140, torsional stress is applied to the edges of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120. ) Occurs, and the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 are shifted in opposite directions.

At this time, the torsional stress is greatest at the four corners of the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120, and the first and second alignment layers (not shown) are distorted by the torsional stress. And as the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the inner surfaces of the second substrates 110 and 120 is distorted, light leakage occurs at four corners.

Hereinafter, the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules due to the torsional stress will be described in more detail.

6A is a view showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the first substrate at one corner of the curved liquid crystal display according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a curved surface according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a diagram showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the second substrate at one corner of the liquid crystal display, and FIG. 6C is a view showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules of FIGS. 6A and 6B together. For example, FIGS. 6A to 6C show liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the upper left corner portion of the display device of FIG. 5.

Liquid crystal molecules located on the inner surfaces of the first substrate (110 of FIG. 5) and the second substrate (120 of FIG. 5) of the curved liquid crystal display (100 of FIG. 5) according to the first embodiment of the present invention in a flat state 131 and 132, the long axis is arranged along the vertical direction of the display device (100 in FIG. 5), that is, the short side direction.

That is, when the long side direction of the curved liquid crystal display (100 in FIG. 5) is referred to as the first direction and the short side direction is referred to as the second direction, the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) and the second substrate (FIG. 5) in a flat state The first and second alignment layers (not shown) on 120) are rubbed along the second direction to have an alignment axis in the second direction, and the liquid crystal molecules 131 and 132 are arranged along the second direction.

The liquid crystal display (100 in FIG. 5) having a flat structure having such a structure is bent toward the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5) along the first direction to be transformed into a curved surface.

At this time, the stress applied to the first and second substrates (110 and 120 in FIG. 5) is different from each of the inner surface and the outer surface, and the outer surface and the second surface of the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) positioned outside the bend. Tensile stress is applied to the inner surface of the substrate (120 in FIG. 5) along the first direction, and the inner surface of the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) and the outer surface of the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5) positioned inside the bend. Compressive stress is applied along the first direction.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, a compressive stress CS11 is applied along the first direction to an edge parallel to the first direction on the inner surface of the first substrate (110 of FIG. 5 ). Here, since the edge of the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) is fixed to the edge of the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5) through the seal pattern (140 in FIG. 5), the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) A tensile stress TS11 is applied along the second direction to an edge parallel to the second direction on the inner surface.

Accordingly, torsional stress S11 due to compressive stress CS11 in the first direction and tensile stress TS11 in the second direction is generated at one edge of the inner surface of the first substrate (110 of FIG. 5 ).

Due to this torsional stress (S11), the orientation axis (not shown) of the first alignment layer (not shown) of the first substrate (110 of FIG. 5) has the center of the first substrate (110 of FIG. 5). The liquid crystal molecules 131 positioned at one edge of the inner surface of the first substrate (110 of FIG. 5) are bent counterclockwise with respect to the initial alignment axis. Is rotated in the direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, the tensile stress TS12 is applied along the first direction to the edge parallel to the first direction on the inner surface of the second substrate (120 of FIG. 5), and the edge parallel to the second direction Compressive stress CS12 is applied along the second direction.

Accordingly, torsional stress S12 due to tensile stress TS12 in the first direction and compressive stress CS12 in the second direction is generated at one edge of the inner surface of the second substrate (120 of FIG. 5 ).

Due to this torsional stress (S12), the orientation axis (not shown) of the second alignment layer (not shown) of the second substrate (120 of FIG. 5) has the center of the second substrate (120 of FIG. 5). The liquid crystal molecules 132 positioned at one edge of the inner surface of the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5) are bent toward the outside, and thus the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules 132 is also bent clockwise with respect to the initial alignment axis. Is rotated.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, the liquid crystal molecules 131 located on the inner surface of the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) and the liquid crystal molecules 132 located on the inner surface of the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5) are the first. It is arranged by twisting with an angle θ1.

Light leakage is generated by the misalignment of the liquid crystal molecules 131 and 132.

On the other hand, an initial light leakage can be prevented by annealing a flat-panel liquid crystal display device for a long time to manufacture a curved liquid crystal display device.

However, annealing is a method of making a curved surface using uniform contraction by evaporating the moisture of the polarizing plate, and when the curved liquid crystal display device thus prepared is left at room temperature, the liquid crystal display in the curved state while the polarizing plate absorbs moisture It changes back to a flat state.

At this time, a compressive stress occurs in the first direction (110 in FIG. 5) along the first direction, and a tensile stress acts in the first direction on the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5), resulting in the first substrate (FIG. 5). 110) and the edge of the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5), torsional stress is generated in the opposite direction as when deformed from a planar state to a curved state.

The torsional stress causes the alignment axes of the first and second alignment layers to bend, and the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the inner surfaces of the first substrate (110 in FIG. 5) and the second substrate (120 in FIG. 5) is distorted. Light leakage occurs at the four corners.

In addition, such an annealing method requires specific equipment, is expensive, and requires a lot of manufacturing time.

-Second Embodiment-

7 is a schematic plan view of a curved liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the curved liquid crystal display 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate 210, a second substrate 220, and first and second substrates 210, 220) between the liquid crystal layer (not shown). A seal pattern 240 is formed on an edge between the first and second substrates 210 and 220.

Here, the first and second substrates 210 and 220 have the same area and are completely overlapped, so that the first substrate 210 may not be exposed, but for convenience, the first substrate 210 is illustrated as being exposed. Alternatively, the first substrate 210 may have a larger area than the second substrate 220.

Although not illustrated, gate lines and data lines that cross each other to define pixel areas on the inner surface of the first substrate 210, thin film transistors connected to the gate lines and the data lines, and pixels formed in the pixel areas and connected to the thin film transistors An electrode and a common electrode generating an electric field are formed together with the pixel electrode.

In addition, although not shown, a black matrix and a color filter layer may be formed on the inner surface of the second substrate 220. The black matrix is positioned corresponding to the gate wiring, the data wiring, and the thin film transistor and has an opening corresponding to the pixel region and blocks light outside the pixel region. The color filter layer corresponds to the opening of the black matrix, and includes red, green, and blue color filters sequentially arranged, and one color filter corresponds to one pixel area.

In order to increase the aperture ratio, a color filter layer may be formed on the first substrate 210.

On the other hand, first and second alignment films (not shown) having alignment axes in a predetermined direction are formed on the top layers of the first substrate 210 and the inner surfaces of the second substrate 220, respectively, so that the initial arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is performed. Decide. Here, the alignment axes of the first and second alignment layers are parallel to the short sides of the substrates 210 and 220.

In addition, first and second polarizing plates (not shown) are disposed on outer surfaces of the first substrate 210 and the second substrate 220, respectively, and the optical transmission axis of the first polarizing plate is perpendicular to the optical transmission axis of the second polarizing plate. Is placed.

The seal pattern 240 is formed to surround the display area on the first substrate 210 or the second substrate 220 to join the first and second substrates 210 and 220, and the two substrates 210 and 220 An enclosed space is formed between them to prevent leakage of the liquid crystal layer. As the material of the seal pattern 240, a thermosetting or photocurable material may be used.

The seal pattern 240 includes first, second, third, and fourth patterns 242, 244, 246, and 248. The first to fourth patterns 242, 244, 246, and 248 are sequentially arranged and connected to each other to form a closed space. The first and third patterns 242 and 246 are formed along the short side direction of the display device 200, and the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 are formed along the long side direction of the display device 200, The first to fourth patterns 242, 244, 246, and 248 have the same first width w21.

Here, the first and third patterns 242 and 246 are hard types, and the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 are soft types. That is, the elongation of the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 is greater than the elongation of the first and third patterns 242 and 246, and thus the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 (stretching force) is less than the tensile force of the first and third patterns 242 and 246. Therefore, the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 are stretched better than the first and third patterns 242 and 246.

The curved liquid crystal display 200 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention has a constant curvature toward the second substrate 220 along the long side direction and has a curved shape.

At this time, in the curved liquid crystal display 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 of the seal pattern 240 formed along the long side direction is formed along the short side direction. Since it is smaller than the tensile force of the first and third patterns 242 and 246, it is possible to reduce the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates 210 and 220 by alleviating the stress in the bending direction.

8A is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the first substrate at one corner of the curved liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a curved surface according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 8A and 8B are views showing the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the second substrate at one corner of the liquid crystal display device. As an example, FIGS. 8A to 8C show liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the upper left corner portion of the display device of FIG. 7.

8A, when the long side direction of the curved liquid crystal display (200 in FIG. 7) according to the second embodiment of the present invention is referred to as a first direction and the short side direction is referred to as a second direction, the first substrate ( Compressive stress CS21 is applied along the first direction to an edge parallel to the first direction on the inner surface of 210 of FIG. 7 ). Here, since the edge of the first substrate (210 in FIG. 7) is fixed to the edge of the second substrate (220 in FIG. 7) through a seal pattern (240 in FIG. 7 ), the first substrate (210 in FIG. 7) A tensile stress TS21 is applied along the second direction to an edge parallel to the second direction on the inner surface.

Accordingly, torsional stress S21 due to compressive stress CS21 in the first direction and tensile stress TS21 in the second direction is generated at one edge of the inner surface of the first substrate (210 of FIG. 7 ).

At this time, the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns (240, 248 in FIG. 7) of the seal pattern (240 in FIG. 7) formed along the first direction is the first and third patterns (FIG. 7) formed in the second direction. Since it is smaller than the tensile force of 242 and 246, the stress in the first direction is relieved so that the compressive stress CS21 becomes smaller than the compressive stress (CS11 in FIG. 6A) in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the magnitude of the torsional stress (S21) is also smaller than the torsional stress (S11 in FIG. 6A) in the first embodiment, the direction of the torsional stress (S21) is also less inclined than the initial orientation axis, and the orientation axis is bent. It becomes smaller.

Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 231 positioned at one corner of the inner surface of the first substrate (210 in FIG. 7) rotate less counterclockwise than the liquid crystal molecules in the first embodiment (131 in FIG. 6A) with respect to the initial alignment axis. do.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, tensile stress TS22 is applied along the first direction to the edge parallel to the first direction on the inner surface of the second substrate (220 of FIG. 7 ), and the edge parallel to the second direction Compressive stress CS22 is applied to the second direction.

Accordingly, torsional stress S22 due to tensile stress TS22 in the first direction and compressive stress CS22 in the second direction is generated at one edge of the inner surface of the second substrate (220 of FIG. 7 ).

At this time, the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns (240, 248 in FIG. 7) of the seal pattern (240 in FIG. 7) formed along the first direction is the first and third patterns (FIG. 7) formed in the second direction. Since it is smaller than the tensile force of 242 and 246, the stress in the first direction is relieved so that the tensile stress TS22 becomes smaller than the tensile stress (TS12 in FIG. 6B) in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the magnitude of the torsional stress (S22) is also smaller than the torsional stress (S12 in FIG. 6B) in the first embodiment, the direction of the torsional stress (S22) is also less inclined than the initial orientation axis, and the orientation axis is bent. It becomes smaller.

Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 232 positioned at one corner of the inner surface of the second substrate (220 in FIG. 7) are rotated less clockwise than the liquid crystal molecules in the first embodiment (132 in FIG. 6B) with respect to the initial alignment axis. .

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 8C, the liquid crystal molecules 231 located on the inner surface of the first substrate (210 of FIG. 7) and the liquid crystal molecules 232 located on the inner surface of the second substrate (220 of FIG. 7) are made of The two angles θ2 are arranged to be twisted, and the second angle θ2 is smaller than the first angle (θ1 in FIG. 6C ).

As described above, the twist angle θ2 between the liquid crystal molecules 231 and 232 adjacent to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates (210 and 220 in FIG. 7 ), respectively, may be reduced to improve light leakage.

The seal pattern according to the second embodiment of the present invention (240 in FIG. 7) may be formed using different materials. That is, the first and third patterns 242 and 246 are formed as a hard type sealant, and the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 are formed as a soft type sealant. Can be.

Alternatively, the seal pattern (240 in FIG. 7) according to the second embodiment of the present invention may be formed of one material. This will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B.

9A and 9B are plan views schematically showing a manufacturing process of a seal pattern according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9A, a sealed pattern 240a is formed by applying a sealant on the substrate 200a and painting at once without breaking. Here, a soft type sealant may be used as the sealant.

Subsequently, the pattern 240a is temporarily hardened. At this time, the pattern 240a may be temporarily hardened by thermal curing. Alternatively, the pattern 240a may be temporarily hardened by UV curing.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, the mask M1 is used to cover the pattern in the first direction (240a in FIG. 9A), and the pattern in the second direction (240a in FIG. 9A) is hardened. At this time, the pattern in the second direction (240a in FIG. 9A) is preferably cured by UV curing. Accordingly, the seal pattern 240 including the first and third patterns 242 and 246 of the hard type and the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 of the soft type is completed.

Here, in consideration of the alignment error with the mask M1, the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 may include portions extending in the second direction at both ends.

In this way, it is possible to form a pattern with a single material at a time and cure only a specific portion to form a seal pattern including different types of patterns.

In this embodiment, a soft type sealant is used, but a hard type sealant may also be used, and the pattern in the first direction (240a in FIG. 9A) may be transformed into a soft type during main curing.

-The third embodiment-

10 is a schematic plan view of a curved liquid crystal display according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

10, the curved liquid crystal display 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a first substrate 310, a second substrate 320, and first and second substrates 310, 320) between the liquid crystal layer (not shown). A seal pattern 340 is formed at an edge between the first and second substrates 310 and 320.

Here, the first and second substrates 310 and 320 are completely overlapped with the same area, so that the first substrate 310 may not be exposed, but for convenience, the first substrate 310 is illustrated as being exposed. Alternatively, the first substrate 310 may have a larger area than the second substrate 320.

Although not illustrated, on the inner surface of the first substrate 310, a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel formed in the pixel area and connected to the thin film transistor An electrode and a common electrode generating an electric field are formed together with the pixel electrode.

In addition, although not shown, a black matrix and a color filter layer may be formed on the inner surface of the second substrate 320. The black matrix is positioned corresponding to the gate wiring, the data wiring, and the thin film transistor and has an opening corresponding to the pixel region and blocks light outside the pixel region. The color filter layer corresponds to the opening of the black matrix, and includes red, green, and blue color filters sequentially arranged, and one color filter corresponds to one pixel area.

In order to increase the aperture ratio, a color filter layer may be formed on the first substrate 310.

On the other hand, first and second alignment films (not shown) having alignment axes in a predetermined direction are formed on the top layers of the first substrate 310 and the inner surfaces of the second substrate 320, respectively, so that the initial arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer is performed. Decide. The alignment axes of the first and second alignment layers are parallel to the short sides of the substrates 310 and 320.

In addition, first and second polarizing plates (not shown) are disposed on outer surfaces of the first substrate 310 and the second substrate 320, respectively, and the optical transmission axis of the first polarizing plate is perpendicular to the optical transmission axis of the second polarizing plate. Is placed.

The seal pattern 340 is formed to surround the display area on the first substrate 310 or the second substrate 320 to join the first and second substrates 310 and 320, and the two substrates 310 and 320. An enclosed space is formed between them to prevent leakage of the liquid crystal layer. As the material of the seal pattern 340, a thermosetting or photocurable material may be used.

Here, the seal pattern 340 includes first, second, third, and fourth patterns 342, 344, 346, and 348. The first to fourth patterns 342, 344, 346, and 348 are sequentially arranged and connected to each other to form a closed space. The first to fourth patterns 342, 344, 346, and 348 are formed of one material.

The first and third patterns 342 and 346 correspond to short sides of the display device 300, and the second and fourth patterns 344 and 348 correspond to long sides of the display device 300. That is, the first and third patterns 342 and 346 are formed along the short side direction of the display device 300 to have a first width w31, and the second and fourth patterns 344 and 348 are display devices ( It is formed along the long side direction of 300) has a second width (w32), the first width (w31) is wider than the second width (w32). Therefore, the stretching force of the second and fourth patterns 344 and 348 is smaller than that of the first and third patterns 342 and 346, and the second and fourth patterns 244 and 248 are excluded. It stretches better than the first and third patterns 242 and 246. At this time, the first width (w1) may be three times the second width (w32), for example, the first width (w31) may be 1.5 to 3.0 mm, the second width (w32) is 0.5 to 1.0 mm Can be

The curved liquid crystal display 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a constant curvature toward the second substrate 320 along the long side direction and has a curved shape.

At this time, in the curved liquid crystal display device 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the first and second patterns of the second and fourth patterns 344 and 348 of the seal pattern 340 formed along the long side direction are formed. Since the tensile force is small because it has a narrower width than the third patterns 342 and 346, it is possible to reduce the twist angle of liquid crystal molecules adjacent to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates 310 and 320 by alleviating the stress in the bending direction. .

11A is a view showing an arrangement state of liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the first substrate at one corner of the curved liquid crystal display according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a curved surface according to the third embodiment of the present invention It is a diagram showing the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules on the inner surface of the second substrate at one corner of the liquid crystal display, and FIG. 11C is a view showing the arrangement state of the liquid crystal molecules of FIGS. 10A and 10B together. As an example, FIGS. 11A to 11C show liquid crystal molecules corresponding to the upper left corner portion of the display device of FIG. 10.

As shown in FIG. 11A, when the long side direction of the curved liquid crystal display (300 in FIG. 10) according to the third embodiment of the present invention is referred to as the first direction and the short side direction is referred to as the second direction, the first substrate ( Compressive stress CS31 is applied along the first direction to an edge parallel to the first direction on the inner surface 310 of FIG. 10. Here, since the edge of the first substrate (310 in FIG. 10) is fixed to the edge of the second substrate (320 in FIG. 10) through the seal pattern (340 in FIG. 10), the first substrate (310 in FIG. 10) A tensile stress TS31 is applied along the second direction to an edge parallel to the second direction on the inner surface.

Accordingly, torsional stress S31 due to compressive stress CS31 in the first direction and tensile stress TS31 in the second direction is generated at one edge of the inner surface of the first substrate (310 of FIG. 10 ).

At this time, the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns (344, 348 of FIG. 10) of the seal pattern (340 of FIG. 10) formed along the first direction is the first and third patterns (FIG. 10 of FIG. Since it is smaller than the tensile force of 342 and 346, the stress in the first direction is relieved so that the compressive stress CS31 becomes smaller than the compressive stress (CS11 in FIG. 6A) in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the magnitude of the torsional stress (S31) is also smaller than the torsional stress (S11 in FIG. 6A) in the first embodiment, the direction of the torsional stress (S31) is also less inclined than the initial orientation axis, and the orientation axis is bent. It becomes smaller.

Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 331 located at one edge of the inner surface of the first substrate (310 in FIG. 10) rotate less counterclockwise than the liquid crystal molecules in the first embodiment (131 in FIG. 6A) with respect to the initial alignment axis. do.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, tensile stress TS32 is applied along the first direction to the edge parallel to the first direction on the inner surface of the second substrate (320 of FIG. 10 ), and the edge parallel to the second direction Compressive stress CS32 is applied along the second direction.

Therefore, a torsional stress (S32) due to the tensile stress (TS32) in the first direction and the compressive stress (CS32) in the second direction is generated at one edge of the inner surface of the second substrate (320 of FIG. 10 ).

At this time, the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns (344, 348 of FIG. 10) of the seal pattern (340 of FIG. 10) formed along the first direction is the first and third patterns (FIG. 10 of FIG. Since it is smaller than the tensile force of 342 and 346, the stress in the first direction is relieved so that the tensile stress TS32 becomes smaller than the tensile stress (TS12 in FIG. 6B) in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the magnitude of the torsional stress (S32) is also smaller than the torsional stress (S12 in FIG. 6B) in the first embodiment, the direction of the torsional stress (S32) is also less inclined than the initial orientation axis, and the orientation axis is bent. It becomes smaller.

Therefore, the liquid crystal molecules 332 located at one edge of the inner surface of the second substrate (320 in FIG. 10) are rotated less clockwise than the liquid crystal molecules in the first embodiment (132 in FIG. 6B) with respect to the initial alignment axis. .

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11C, the liquid crystal molecules 331 located on the inner surface of the first substrate (310 of FIG. 10) and the liquid crystal molecules 332 located on the inner surface of the second substrate (320 of FIG. 10) are made of It is arranged by twisting with a three-angle (θ3), the third angle (θ3) is smaller than the first angle (θ1 in Figure 6c).

As described above, the twist angle θ3 between the liquid crystal molecules 331 and 332 adjacent to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates (310 and 320 in FIG. 10), respectively, may be reduced to improve light leakage.

12 is a plan view schematically showing a manufacturing process of a seal pattern according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

12, when defining the X-axis direction parallel to the first direction and the Y-axis direction parallel to the second direction, first, -Y-axis direction (1), +Y-axis direction (2), Then, a sealant is applied in the -Y-axis direction 3 to draw a pattern to form a first pattern (342 in FIG. 10). Subsequently, a sealant is applied in the +X axis direction 4 to draw a pattern to form a second pattern (344 in FIG. 10). Next, a sealant is applied in the +Y-axis direction 5, the -Y-axis direction 6, and the +Y-axis direction 7 to draw a pattern to form a third pattern (346 in FIG. 10). Next, a sealant is applied in the -X-axis direction 8 to draw a pattern to form a fourth pattern (348 in FIG. 10), thereby completing the seal pattern (340 in FIG. 10).

That is, in the order of the first pattern (342 in FIG. 10), the second pattern (344 in FIG. 10), the third pattern (346 in FIG. 10), and the fourth pattern (348 in FIG. 10), without interruption, By drawing a pattern at a time, a seal pattern having different widths (340 in FIG. 10) may be formed.

Meanwhile, the first pattern (342 in FIG. 10) may be formed by applying the sealant in the +Y-axis direction, the -Y-axis direction, and the +Y-axis direction, and the fourth by applying the sealant in the +X-axis direction A pattern (348 in FIG. 10) may be formed, and a third pattern (346 in FIG. 10) may be formed by applying a sealant in the -Y-axis direction, the +Y-axis direction, and the -Y-axis direction,- A second pattern (344 in FIG. 10) may be formed by applying a sealant in the X-axis direction. That is, the first pattern (342 of FIG. 10), the fourth pattern (348 of FIG. 10), the third pattern (346 of FIG. 10), and the second pattern (344 of FIG. 10) are formed in this order, without interruption. A pattern can be drawn at once to form a seal pattern (340 in FIG. 10).

In the previous embodiment, the structure in which the curved liquid crystal display device has a curvature along the long side direction and the seal pattern in the long side direction has a smaller tensile force than the seal pattern in the short side direction, but the curved liquid crystal display device of the present invention has a short side direction It may have a curvature, and the seal pattern in the short side direction has a smaller tensile force than the seal pattern in the long side direction.

Although described above with reference to preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art variously modify and change the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. You can understand that you can.

200, 300: curved liquid crystal display
210, 310: first substrate 220, 320: second substrate
231, 232, 331, 332: liquid crystal molecules
240, 340: seal pattern
242, 342: first pattern 244, 344: second pattern
246, 346: 3rd pattern 248, 348: 4th pattern
CS21, CS22, CS31, CS32: compressive stress
TS21, TS22, TS31, TS32: tensile stress
S21, S22, S31, S32: Torsional stress

Claims (6)

A first substrate and a second substrate having curvature along the first direction;
A seal pattern formed on an edge between the first and second substrates;
A liquid crystal layer positioned in the seal pattern between the first and second substrates
Including,
The seal pattern includes first, second, third, and fourth patterns, and the first and third patterns correspond to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second and fourth patterns are Corresponds to the first direction,
Curved liquid crystal display device, characterized in that the tensile force of the second and fourth patterns is smaller than the tensile force of the first and third patterns.
According to claim 1,
The elongation rate of the second and fourth patterns is larger than the elongation rate of the first and third patterns.
According to claim 1,
The width of the second and fourth patterns is smaller than the width of the first and third patterns, the curved liquid crystal display device.
The method of claim 3,
The width of the first and third patterns is three times the width of the second and fourth patterns, characterized in that the curved liquid crystal display device.
The method of claim 1 or 2,
A liquid crystal display device of a curved surface, characterized in that the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are initially arranged parallel to the second direction.
The method of claim 1 or 2,
The first direction corresponds to the long sides of the first and second substrates, and the second direction corresponds to the short sides of the first and second substrates.

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