KR20060076479A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device further comprising a structure for preventing unfilled structures in the liquid crystal margin region and preventing or minimizing the inflow of bubbles generated in the liquid crystal margin region by adjusting the arrangement of the structures. And a first substrate and a second substrate on which a thin film transistor array is formed, and a second substrate on which a thin film transistor array is formed. And a plurality of first column spacers formed in the active region and maintaining cell gaps between the first substrate and the second substrate, and formed in the liquid crystal margin region and spreading to the outside of the liquid crystal dropped in the center of the active region. The dam pattern is formed in the liquid crystal margin region and the liquid crystal margin region is introduced into the liquid crystal margin region when the liquid crystal spreads. Including a second plurality of column spacers for preventing the reverse flow of the active region of the cell characterized by true.

Unfilled, column spacer, honeycomb, dam, bubble, liquid crystal dropping

Description

Liquid crystal display device

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a general liquid crystal display device

2 is a flowchart of a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal injection type liquid crystal display device.

3 is a flowchart of a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal drop type liquid crystal display device;

4 is a plan view of a typical liquid crystal display device

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a column spacer forming portion of FIG. 4. FIG.

6 is a photograph showing bubbles appearing on the outside of a conventional liquid crystal display

7 is a plan view showing a state in which the first and second substrates of the liquid crystal display of the present invention are bonded to each other.

8 is an enlarged plan view of region A (liquid crystal margin region) of FIG. 7;

9 is an enlarged plan view of a region A (liquid crystal margin region) of FIG. 7 having another configuration;

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a pass line between a liquid crystal margin region and a column spacer having a honeycomb structure in the liquid crystal margin region of the liquid crystal display and the honeycomb structured column spacers.

11 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal margin region and a column spacer formed therein of a liquid crystal display according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 11 applied to the TN mode.

12B is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 11 applied to the IPS mode.

FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a direct pass line in FIG. 11 of the present invention. FIG.

14 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal margin region and a column spacer formed therein in the liquid crystal display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

15 is an enlarged plan view of an active region ("B" region in FIG. 7) of the liquid crystal display of the present invention;

16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II 'of FIG.

17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III 'of FIG.

* Description of symbols on the main parts of the drawings *

100: second substrate 101: gate line

101a: gate electrode 102: data line

102a: source electrode 102b: drain electrode

103: pixel electrode 104: semiconductor layer

105: gate insulating film 106: protective film

110: first substrate 111: black matrix layer

112: color filter layer 113: overcoat layer

115: seal pattern 120: display area

125: liquid crystal margin area

141: first dam 142: second dam

143: third dam 150: column spacer

151: first pass line 152: second pass line

201: column spacer 202: first column spacer

203: second column spacer

252: first pass line 260: second pass line

301: Column spacer

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and in particular, to form a structure to prevent the unfilled in the liquid crystal margin region, the liquid crystal to prevent or minimize the inflow of the active region of bubbles generated in the liquid crystal margin region by adjusting the arrangement of the structure It relates to a display device.

As the information society develops, the demand for display devices is increasing in various forms, and in recent years, liquid crystal display devices (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electro luminescent displays (ELD), and vacuum fluorescent (VFD) Various flat panel display devices such as displays have been studied, and some of them are already used as display devices in various devices.

Among them, LCD is the most widely used as the substitute for CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) for mobile image display device because of its excellent image quality, light weight, thinness, and low power consumption. In addition to the use of the present invention has been developed in various ways such as a television and a computer monitor for receiving and displaying broadcast signals.

In order to use such a liquid crystal display as a general screen display device in various parts, it is a matter of how high quality images such as high definition, high brightness and large area can be realized while maintaining the characteristics of light weight, thinness and low power consumption. Can be.

Hereinafter, a conventional liquid crystal display device and a spacer holding a cell gap of the liquid crystal display device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a general liquid crystal display.

As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal injected between a first substrate 1 and a second substrate 2 bonded to each other with a predetermined space, and between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. It consists of layer (3).

In more detail, the first substrate 1 may have a plurality of gate lines 4 in one direction and constant in a direction perpendicular to the gate lines 4 at regular intervals to define the pixel region P. FIG. A plurality of data lines 5 are arranged at intervals. In addition, a pixel electrode 6 is formed in each of the pixel regions P, and a thin film transistor T is formed at a portion where each of the gate lines 4 and the data lines 5 intersect to form the thin film transistor T. ) Applies a data signal of the data line 5 to each of the pixel electrodes 6 in response to the signal of the gate line 4.

In addition, a black matrix layer 7 is formed on the second substrate 2 to block light in portions other than the pixel region P, and portions R corresponding to the respective pixel regions are formed to express colors. , G, B color filter layers 8 are formed, and a common electrode 9 for realizing an image is formed on the color filter layers 8.

In the liquid crystal display as described above, the liquid crystal layer 3 formed between the first and second substrates is aligned by an electric field between the pixel electrode 6 and the common electrode 9, and the liquid crystal layer 3 of the liquid crystal layer 3 is aligned. The amount of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 3 can be adjusted according to the degree of alignment to express the image.

Such a liquid crystal display is called a twisted nematic (TN) mode liquid crystal display, and the TN mode liquid crystal display has a disadvantage of having a narrow viewing angle, and an in-plane switching (IPS) mode to overcome the disadvantage of the TN mode. Liquid crystal display devices have been developed.

In the IPS mode liquid crystal display, a pixel electrode and a common electrode are formed parallel to each other at a predetermined distance in a pixel area of the first substrate so that a lateral electric field (horizontal electric field) is generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode and the lateral electric field is generated. This is to align the liquid crystal layer.

Hereinafter, the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display device will be described.

The manufacturing method of a general liquid crystal display device can be classified into a liquid crystal injection method manufacturing method and a liquid crystal drop method manufacturing method according to the method of forming a liquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates.

First, the manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display of the liquid crystal injection method is as follows.

2 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of a general liquid crystal injection method.

Liquid crystal displays are largely classified into an array process, a cell process, a module process, and the like.

In the array process, as described above, a TFT array including a gate line and a data line, a pixel electrode, and a thin film transistor is formed on the first substrate, and a black matrix layer, a color filter layer, a common electrode, etc., are formed on the second substrate. It is a process of forming the color filter array provided with.

In this case, the array process does not form one liquid crystal panel on one substrate, but designs a plurality of liquid crystal panels on one large glass substrate to form a TFT array and a color filter array in each liquid crystal panel region.

 In this way, the TFT substrate on which the TFT array is formed and the color filter substrate on which the color filter array is formed are moved to the cell processing line.

Subsequently, an alignment process (rubbing process) S10 is applied to apply the alignment material on the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate and to make the liquid crystal molecules have uniform directionality.

Here, the alignment step (S10) proceeds in order of cleaning before the alignment film coating, alignment film printing, alignment film firing, alignment film inspection, rubbing process.

Subsequently, the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are cleaned (S20), respectively.

Further, a ball spacer for maintaining a cell gap on the TFT substrate or the color filter substrate is spread (S30), and the two substrates are bonded to an outer portion of each liquid crystal panel region. To form a seal pattern (seal pattern) to (S40). At this time, the seal pattern is formed to have a liquid crystal injection hole pattern for injecting liquid crystal.

Here, the ball spacer is formed of plastic balls or elastic plastic fine particles.

The two substrates are bonded together to face the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate so that the seal patterns face each other, and the seal pattern is cured (S50).

Thereafter, the bonded and cured TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are cut and processed for each unit liquid crystal panel region (S60) to produce a unit liquid crystal panel having a predetermined size.

Thereafter, the liquid crystal is injected through the liquid crystal injection hole of each unit liquid crystal panel, and after completion of the injection, the liquid crystal injection hole is sealed (S70) to form a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal display device is manufactured by performing external appearance and electrical defect inspection (S80) of each unit liquid crystal panel.

Here, the liquid crystal injection process will be briefly described as follows.

First, the container containing the liquid crystal material to be injected and the liquid crystal panel to inject the liquid crystal are placed in the chamber, and the pressure in the chamber is maintained in a vacuum state to remove moisture from the liquid crystal material or the inner wall of the container. Then, bubbles are de-included and the inner space of the liquid crystal panel is vacuumed.

The liquid crystal injection hole of the liquid crystal panel is immersed in or contacted with a container containing a liquid crystal material in a desired vacuum state, and then the pressure inside the chamber is changed from a vacuum state to an atmospheric pressure state, and the pressure inside the liquid crystal panel and the pressure of the chamber. By the difference, the liquid crystal material is injected into the liquid crystal panel through the liquid crystal injection hole.

There existed the following problems in the liquid crystal display device manufacturing method of such a liquid crystal injection system.

First, after cutting into a unit panel, the liquid crystal injection hole is immersed in the liquid crystal liquid by maintaining the vacuum state between the two substrates, so that the liquid crystal injection takes a lot of time, the productivity is reduced.

Second, in the case of manufacturing a large-area liquid crystal display device, when the liquid crystal is injected by the liquid crystal injection method, the liquid crystal is not completely injected into the panel, which causes a defect.

Third, since the process is complicated and time-consuming as described above, several liquid crystal injection equipment is required, which requires a lot of space.

Accordingly, in order to overcome the problems of the liquid crystal injection method, a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal drop type liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal is dropped on one of two substrates and then the two substrates are bonded to each other has been developed.

3 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal drop type liquid crystal display device.

That is, the liquid crystal dropping method manufacturing method of a liquid crystal dropping system is a method of bonding two board | substrates together after dropping an appropriate amount of liquid crystal to either one of two board | substrates before bonding two board | substrates together.

Therefore, when the ball spacer is used to maintain the cell gap as in the liquid crystal injection method, when the dropped liquid crystal spreads, the ball spacer is moved in the liquid crystal spreading direction and the spacer is pushed to one side, thereby making it impossible to maintain the accurate cell gap.

Therefore, the liquid crystal dropping method should use a fixed spacer (column spacer or patterned spacer) in which the spacer is fixed to the substrate without using the ball spacer.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the array process, a black matrix layer, a color filter layer, and a common electrode are formed on a color filter substrate, and a photosensitive resin is formed on the common electrode and selectively removed to form column spacers on the black matrix layer. do. In addition, the column spacer may be formed by a photo process or an ink-jet process.

Then, an alignment film is applied to the entire TFT substrate including the column spacer and the color filter substrate, and the alignment film is rubbed.

As described above, the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate on which the alignment process is completed are cleaned (S101), and then, a liquid crystal is dropped into a predetermined region on one of the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate (S102), and each liquid crystal of the remaining substrates. A seal pattern is formed at an outer portion of the panel region by using a dispensing apparatus (S103).

At this time, the liquid crystal may also be dropped on one of the two substrates and a seal pattern may be formed.

Then, the substrate on which the liquid crystal is not dropped is inverted (inverted to face each other) (S104), the TFT substrate and the color filter substrate are pressed together, and the seal pattern is cured (S105).

Subsequently, the bonded substrate is cut and processed for each unit liquid crystal panel (S106).

In addition, the liquid crystal display device may be manufactured by performing the external appearance and electrical defect inspection (S107) of the processed unit liquid crystal panel.

In the manufacturing method of such a liquid crystal dropping method, a column spacer is formed on a color filter substrate, a liquid crystal is dripped on a TFT substrate, and two board | substrates are joined together, and a panel is formed.

At this time, the column spacer is formed by being fixed to the color filter substrate and is in contact with the TFT substrate. The contact portion of the TFT substrate is formed by giving a predetermined height on the color filter substrate, corresponding to any single wiring of the gate line or the data line.

4 is a plan view of a conventional liquid crystal display, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a column spacer forming portion of FIG. 4.

4 and 5, in the conventional liquid crystal display, the gate line 4 and the data line 5 are arranged to cross each other to define a pixel region, and the gate line 4 and the data line 5 are arranged. The thin film transistor TFT is formed at the intersection of the cross-sectional lines, and the pixel electrode 6 is formed in each pixel area. Then, the column spacer 20 for maintaining the cell gap at a predetermined interval is formed. In FIG. 5, one column spacer 20 is disposed in six subpixels.

Here, the column spacer 20 is formed in a portion corresponding to the upper side of the gate line 4, as shown in FIG. That is, the gate line 4 is formed on the first substrate 1, the gate insulating layer 15 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate including the gate line 4, and the passivation layer 16 is formed on the gate insulating layer 15. Is formed. In addition, a black matrix layer 7, a color filter layer 8, and a common electrode 14 are formed on the second substrate 2, and a column spacer is disposed on the common electrode 14 at a portion corresponding to the gate line 4. 20 is formed so that the two substrates are bonded together so that the column spacer 20 is positioned on the gate line 4. In the case of the IPS mode liquid crystal display, an overcoat layer is formed in place of the common electrode 14.

As described above, the unit liquid crystal display device manufactured by the liquid crystal injection method or the liquid crystal drop method is divided into an active region for actually displaying an image and a liquid crystal margin region formed between the active region and the seal pattern.

That is, as described above, the first substrate 1 on which the gate line and the data line, the thin film transistor, and the pixel electrode are formed, and the second substrate 2 on which the black matrix layer 7 and the color filter layer 8 are formed are sealed patterns. A liquid crystal layer (not shown, see FIG. 1 in FIG. 1) is formed between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, which are bonded at an edge portion by (not shown) and bonded by the seal pattern. do.

The liquid crystal display device thus formed is divided into an active region for actually displaying an image and a liquid crystal margin region formed between the active region and the seal pattern of the periphery of the active region. The liquid crystal margin region is shielded by a black matrix layer (not shown, see 7 of FIG. 1). Here, the liquid crystal margin region is a free space through which the liquid crystal formed between the two substrates can spread, and the liquid crystal margin region is covered by the black matrix layer formed on the second substrate 2 so that an image is not displayed. .

6 is a photograph showing bubbles appearing on the outside of a conventional liquid crystal display.

In FIG. 6, in the liquid crystal panel defined by the bonding of a 1st board | substrate and a 2nd board | substrate, it has shown that the bubble 25 generate | occur | produces in the corner, respectively.

When the liquid crystal layer is formed by the liquid crystal dropping method, bubbles may be mixed while the liquid crystal is dropped onto one substrate, unlike the liquid crystal injection method injected by the pressure difference. The actual drop of the liquid crystal is made corresponding to the active region, and spreads outward when the first and second substrates are bonded. After the bonding, bubbles introduced into the liquid crystal move to the corners with the spread of the liquid crystal. The bubbles in the corners of the liquid crystal panel 10 enter the active region of the liquid crystal panel 10 again due to an external impact or a change in temperature such as high temperature. .

In addition, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, although liquid crystal is normally dropped, the liquid crystal margin region between the first and second substrates defined between the active region and the seal pattern is empty, so that the liquid crystal filled in the active region is not exposed to impact. As a result, when it flows into the liquid crystal margin region, it is almost impossible to recover to the original active region again. As the liquid crystal is not filled, an unfilled defect occurs in which the amount of liquid crystal required for normal driving is insufficient.

The conventional liquid crystal display as described above has the following problems.

First, the dropping of the liquid crystal is usually made only at the center portion of the active region, and upon dropping, the dropped liquid crystal spreads outward. In this case, bubbles introduced into the liquid crystal are also moved outward together with the liquid crystal when the liquid crystal is dropped. However, such bubbles may flow back into the active region due to a predetermined shock or a change in temperature at high temperatures. Such bubbles are observed as spots when the liquid crystal display is driven when flowing into the active region.

Second, when the display surface of the liquid crystal display is externally impacted, the liquid crystals in the active region move to the liquid crystal margin region. Alternatively, liquid crystals may move to the liquid crystal margin region due to an increase in temperature of the surrounding environment in which the liquid crystal display is placed.

As described above, after the liquid crystal is moved to the liquid crystal margin region due to external external force or liquid crystal expansion at a high temperature, the liquid crystal is not 100% restored to the active region even if the external force is removed or returned to room temperature. Will occur. As such, when the unfilled phenomenon occurs, the unfilled part appears as black dots when viewed with the naked eye.

Third, in the liquid crystal display device manufactured by the conventional dropping method, column spacers are formed on the color filter substrate in correspondence with the gate lines, and the column spacers are arranged for every six subpixels. In this case, the contact density between the column spacer and the TFT substrate with respect to the entire substrate area is 0.242%, and there is a corresponding friction force.

When the friction force is applied from the outside, the friction force acts as a force that prevents the restoration to the original state after the shift between the color filter substrate and the TFT substrate. In this case, a weakening of the restoring force of the column spacer due to the friction force causes a discoloration phenomenon of the liquid crystal, thereby causing touch unevenness.

Fourth, the ball spacers used in the liquid crystal injection method are scattered in a large amount, and also have a spherical shape, and when the predetermined area of the panel is pressed, the ball spacers of the corresponding parts are slid to the side, and the column spacers are resistant to being pressed. Since the substrate is selectively formed in portions other than the region, when the portion in which the column spacer is not formed is pressed, the substrate is easily bent, and the pressing failure, which is a phenomenon in which the cell gap of the pressed portion is not maintained and collapses, is observed.

Fifth, in the conventional liquid crystal display device, the contact area is large because the column spacer is in contact with the TFT substrate in the portion corresponding to the upper side of the gate line. Therefore, when an external force is applied, peeling of the alignment layer occurs at a contact portion between the column spacer and the alignment layer formed on the TFT substrate due to friction, thereby causing internal foreign matter.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems to further form a structure to prevent the unfilled liquid crystal margin region, and to prevent the inflow of the active region of bubbles generated in the liquid crystal margin region by adjusting the arrangement of the structure or It is an object of the present invention to provide a minimized liquid crystal display device.

In order to achieve the above object, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is opposed to each other and bonded to each other by a seal pattern. The liquid crystal display device includes an active region in the center and a liquid crystal margin region in the outer portion of the seal pattern, and a thin film in each active region. A first substrate on which a transistor array is formed and a second substrate on which a color filter array is formed, a plurality of first column spacers formed in the active region and maintaining a cell gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the liquid crystal margin A dam pattern formed in the region and controlling the spread of the liquid crystal dropped in the center of the active region and the liquid crystal margin region formed in the liquid crystal margin region, and the inflow of bubbles introduced into the liquid crystal margin region into the active region of the liquid crystal when the liquid crystal spreads It is characterized by including a plurality of second column spacer to prevent the.

The plurality of second column spacers may be disposed on a line in a first direction or a line in a second direction, and adjacent column spacers arranged in a line in the first direction may not be parallel in a second direction, and the second direction. Adjacent column spacers arranged in lines of are not parallel in the first direction.

Four column spacers adjacent up, down, left, and right of the second column spacers are arranged in a parallelogram shape.

The spacing between the second column spacers is smaller than the critical dimension of the second column spacers.

A spaced interval between the second column spacers is 1/2 of a critical dimension of the second column spacers.

The second column spacers have one direct pass line corresponding to a corner portion of the dam pattern.

The second column spacers are man shaped. Or the second column spacers are polygonal.

The dam pattern may include a first dam pattern formed adjacent to the active region and a second dam pattern having an opening at a corner portion of an outer edge of the first dam pattern. The second column spacer is formed between the periphery of the second dam pattern and the seal pattern.

The dam pattern further includes a first dam pattern formed adjacent to the active region, a second dam pattern formed with an opening at an outer corner of the first dam pattern, and a third dam pattern formed adjacent to the seal pattern. It is made to include.

The second column spacer is formed between the outside of the second dam pattern and the third dam pattern.

The first and second column spacers and the dam patterns are formed on the second substrate.

A black matrix layer is further formed in the liquid crystal margin area on the second substrate.

The thin film transistor array includes a gate line and a data line intersecting each other on the first substrate to define a pixel area, a thin film transistor formed at an intersection of the gate line and the data line, and a pixel electrode formed in the pixel area. It is done by

The first column spacer is formed to correspond to the thin film transistor.

A third column spacer is further formed on the second substrate to correspond to the gate line or the data line.

The third column spacer is spaced apart from the first substrate by a predetermined distance.

The color filter array may include a black matrix layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the non-pixel region and the black matrix layer, and a color filter layer formed corresponding to the pixel region on the second substrate including the black matrix layer. And a common electrode formed on the second substrate including the black matrix layer and the color filter layer.

The thin film transistor array further includes a common electrode having an alternating shape with the pixel electrode in the pixel region.

The color filter array may include a black matrix layer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the non-pixel region and the black matrix layer, and a color filter layer formed corresponding to the pixel region on the second substrate including the black matrix layer. And an overcoat layer formed on the entire surface of the second substrate including the black matrix layer and the color filter layer.

The first and second column spacers and the dam pattern are formed of the same material.

The first and second column spacers and the dam pattern are formed at the same height.

The first column spacer is in contact with the first substrate, and the second column spacer and the dam pattern are spaced apart from the first substrate.

Hereinafter, the liquid crystal display of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7 is a plan view illustrating a state in which the first and second substrates of the liquid crystal display of the present invention are bonded to each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the liquid crystal display of the present invention, the first substrate 100 on which the thin film transistor array is formed and the second substrate 110 on which the color filter array is formed are bonded at the edge portion by the seal pattern 115. A liquid crystal layer (not shown) is formed between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 110 bonded by the seal pattern 115.

In addition, an area in the seal pattern 115 is divided into an active area 120 that actually displays an image, and a liquid crystal margin area 125 around a periphery of the active area. The liquid crystal margin region 125 is shielded by a black matrix layer (see 111 in FIG. 12). Here, the liquid crystal margin region 125 is a free space through which the liquid crystal filled between the first and second substrates 100 and 110 can spread, and the liquid crystal margin region 125 is the second substrate 110. ) Is covered by a black matrix layer (not shown) formed so that no image is displayed.

Hereinafter, the liquid crystal margin region will be described in more detail.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of region A (corner portion of the liquid crystal margin region) of FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, in the liquid crystal margin region, a first dam pattern 141 is formed adjacent to the active region 120, and is formed outside the first dam pattern 141 and has an opening at a corner. Pattern 142 is formed.

When the liquid crystal is dropped onto the first substrate 100 or the second substrate 110 and then the two substrates 110 and 120 are bonded together, the liquid crystal dropped in the center is spread in all directions due to the pressurization upon bonding. The first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 may form liquid crystals at an outer portion of the active region, and may fill liquid crystals spreading in all directions within the active region. Here, the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 are formed on the second substrate 110 and are not in contact with the opposing first substrate 100. In this case, the liquid crystal is maintained in the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 until the temperature suddenly rises or the external force is applied. This is because the collected liquid crystals have attractive forces with each other.

The first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 may be made of the same material as the column spacer formed in the active region to maintain a cell gap between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 110. It is formed in the process.

9 is an enlarged plan view of a region A (liquid crystal margin region) of FIG. 7 having another embodiment.

9 is a structure in which the third dam pattern 143 is further formed adjacent to the seal pattern 115 in the structure of FIG. 8. As shown in the drawing, the third dam pattern 143 may have an opening in the outer region, or may be formed in a closed rectangular shape adjacent to the seal pattern 115. Depending on the model of the liquid crystal panel, the third dam pattern 143 may or may not be applied. In this case, when the liquid crystal flows into the liquid crystal margin region 125 beyond the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142, the third dam pattern 143 directly forms the seal pattern 115. It may serve to prevent contact.

The third dam pattern 143 is also manufactured by the same material and the same process as the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142.

On the other hand, if the liquid crystal display is placed in an environment at a high temperature or a predetermined external force is applied to the liquid crystal display, some of the liquid crystal passes over the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 and the liquid crystal margin region 125 is formed. Will flow into the. In this case, the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 are formed based on the height of the column spacer, but the color filter layer (see 112 in FIG. 12) is not formed in the liquid crystal margin region 125. Since there is a predetermined distance between the first substrate 100, a predetermined amount of liquid crystal can flow from the active region to the liquid crystal margin region.

In the ideal case, the liquid crystal is present in the first dam pattern 141, or when the external external force is applied or the liquid crystal panel is placed in a high temperature environment, the liquid crystal is introduced into the liquid crystal margin region 125. In this case, even when the external force is removed or returned to room temperature, the liquid crystal does not return to 100% into the active region 120, and thus an unfilled phenomenon occurs.

10 is a plan view illustrating a column spacer formed in a honeycomb structure and a pass line thereof in a liquid crystal margin region of the liquid crystal display and the liquid crystal margin region.

As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of column spacers 150 may be further formed outside the liquid crystal margin region 125, that is, the second dam pattern 142 to fill the empty space of the liquid crystal margin region 125 in advance. In this case, the amount of liquid crystal flowing over the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142 may be reduced. In the actual liquid crystal margin region 125, there is less room for the liquid crystal to be filled by the volume of the plurality of column spacers 150. Therefore, it is possible to improve an unfilled defect in which the liquid crystal escapes from the active region to the liquid crystal margin region.

However, when the column spacer 150 is squarely shaped as shown in FIG. 10, and the four column spacers 150 adjacent to the top, bottom, left, and right sides are also regularly arranged, the liquid crystals in the space between the column spacers spaced apart from each other are arranged. And a plurality of horizontal pass lines 151 and a plurality of vertical pass lines 152 through which bubbles can flow. Accordingly, bubbles that have flowed into the liquid crystal margin region 125 together with the bonding of the substrate may flow through the plurality of pass lines 151 and 152 directly at the corners of the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142. The situation is easy to move into the active region 120 is created.

First Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal margin region and a column spacer formed therein of the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment. FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 11 applied to a TN mode. 12B is a structural cross sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 11 applied to the IPS mode. 13 is a plan view illustrating a direct pass line in FIG. 11 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the liquid crystal display according to the first exemplary embodiment, column spacers 201 are formed in the liquid crystal margin region 125 to prevent unfilling, and the arrangement of the horizontal and vertical lines is performed. Only in the direction to minimize the direct pass line (back pass) that is the reverse flow of the bubbles introduced into the liquid crystal margin region 125 into the active region when the liquid crystal spreads. At this time, the column spacer 201 is a component that fills the liquid crystal margin region 125 with a predetermined volume, and does not function as a cell gap holding function of the actual column spacer, but a predetermined amount of liquid crystal to the liquid crystal margin region 125. It controls the inflow of abnormality.

12A and 12B, a color filter array including the black matrix layer 111, the color filter layer 112, the common electrode 113, or the overcoat layer 123 is formed corresponding to the active region. .

In addition, corresponding to the liquid crystal margin region, there is a slight difference depending on whether the mode in which the liquid crystal display device is applied is a twisted nematic (TN) mode or an in-plane switching (IPS) mode.

For example, in the case of the TN mode, as illustrated in FIG. 12A, a black matrix layer 111 is formed on the second substrate 110 to correspond to the liquid crystal margin region, and the common voltage on the first substrate 100 is formed. The common electrode 113 is further extended from the active region 120 to be connected to an application line (not shown).

In the case of the IPS mode, as illustrated in FIG. 12B, the black matrix layer 111 is formed on the second substrate 110. An overcoat layer 123 may extend from the active region 120 to be further formed on the black matrix layer 111, and may not be formed, as shown. If the black matrix layer 111 is made of a resin BM (Black Material), as shown, in this case, the seal pattern 115 removes the black matrix layer at the formation site.

The second column spacer 201 shown in FIG. 11 is man shaped.

Here, the column spacers 201 on the first horizontal line and the column spacers 201 on the second horizontal line are not parallel to each other on the vertical line. Further, the column spacers 201 on the first vertical line and the column spacers 201 on the second vertical line are not parallel to each other on the horizontal line. According to the illustrated figure, the column spacers 201 of adjacent horizontal lines are formed on the same line in a half area on the vertical line, respectively. That is, the column spacers of the second horizontal lines are formed by moving to the right or left by one half of the horizontal or vertical length of the column spacers of the first horizontal lines. Similarly, the column spacers of adjacent vertical lines are also formed on the horizontal line in a half area, respectively, i.e., the column spacers of the second vertical lines are 1 / the length of the horizontal or vertical length of the column spacers of the first vertical lines. It is formed by moving up or down by two.

Here, the columnar column spacer is formed in a shape of a mandrel inside a square having the same width (a) and length (a), and the line width of the mantissa line is 10 to 30 µm. . At this time, the size of the square is about 100㎛. The first and second column spacers 202 and 203 of FIGS. 15 to 17 formed in the active region are formed to have a size of about 3 to 5 times, considering that they are formed in a size of about 20 μm to 30 μm in length and width. do.

As shown in FIG. 13, adjacent four column spacers 201 are arranged in the shape of a parallelogram. At this time, at the corners of the first and second dam patterns 141 and 142, one direct pass line 260 is formed to directly flow in and out between the active region and the liquid crystal margin region of the liquid crystal.

Horizontal pass lines 252 that may flow after liquid crystal and bubble flow into the liquid crystal margin region in the region between the column spacers of the first horizontal lines, the column spacers of the second horizontal lines, and between the remaining horizontal lines. Is formed. Similarly, vertical pass lines 251 of the same function are formed in the region between the column spacers of the first vertical lines, the column spacers of the second vertical lines, and between the remaining vertical lines.

Therefore, after bubbles are introduced into the liquid crystal margin region by the liquid crystal dropping, spaces between the column spacers are formed as horizontal pass lines 251 and vertical pass lines 252, respectively, and the first and second dam patterns are formed. At the corners of only one vertical line of the direct pass line 260 is formed, it is difficult to bubble back into the active region 120.

Here, the columnar column spacers 201 serve as a flow obstruction with respect to the bubbles.

In addition, the bubble is moved between the first and second substrates (100, 110) in the empty area when the bonding is easy to move to the outside, and after bonding is introduced with the bubble to the liquid crystal margin area With the liquid crystal. In this case, bubbles are difficult to move inside the liquid crystal due to the nature of the high viscosity liquid crystal and are fixed inside the column spacers 201.

Second Embodiment

14 is a plan view illustrating a liquid crystal margin region and a column spacer formed therein in the liquid crystal display according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the liquid crystal display according to the second exemplary embodiment, the square column spacer 301 is formed instead of the swastika column spacer in the first exemplary embodiment. In this case, the column spacers on the first horizontal line and the column spacers on the second horizontal line are not parallel to each other on the vertical line. Further, the column spacers on the first vertical line and the column spacers on the second vertical line are not parallel to each other on the horizontal line. According to the illustrated figure, the column spacers of adjacent horizontal lines are each formed on the same line with a half area on the vertical line. Each of the lines is formed in turn by one half of the horizontal or vertical length of the column spacer. Similarly, the column spacers of adjacent vertical lines are also formed on the horizontal line with each other having a half area on the same line, and overlap each other by 1/2 on the adjacent horizontal line.

The square column spacer 301 according to the second embodiment may obtain the same effects as those described above even if the square column spacer 301 is converted to a different shape while having the same arrangement.

In the above embodiments, the dam pattern structure of the liquid crystal margin region of FIG. 8 has been described as a reference. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be applicable to a form having a dam pattern structure of the liquid crystal margin region of FIG. 9. In this case, in the structure including the third dam pattern, the above-described man-shaped spacer, square or other column spacer may be formed in the same arrangement between the second dam pattern and the third dam pattern.

Hereinafter, the shape of the column spacer formed in the active region of the liquid crystal display of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view of an active region ("B" region in FIG. 7) of the liquid crystal display of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II ′ of FIG. 15, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. It is structural sectional drawing on line II-II '.

15 to 17, in the liquid crystal display of the present invention, a gate line 101 having a gate electrode 101 a is formed on a first substrate 100, and a substrate front surface including the gate line 101 is formed. The gate insulating film 105 is formed. The semiconductor layer 104 is formed on the gate insulating layer 105 above the gate electrode 101a, and the data line 102 is formed on the gate insulating layer 105 in a direction perpendicular to the gate line 101. At the same time, the source electrode 102a protruding in a “U” shape and the drain electrode 102b extending into the pixel region so as to overlap the semiconductor layer 104 are extended to the pixel region. Is formed. As described above, a U channel type thin film transistor having a U-shaped channel region is formed at a portion where the gate line 101 and the data line 102 cross each other.

In addition, as described above, a passivation layer 106 is formed on the entire surface of the substrate on which the thin film transistor is formed, and a contact hole 108 is formed in the drain electrode 102b and is connected to the drain electrode 102b through the contact hole 108. The pixel electrode 103 is formed in the pixel region so that an alignment film (not shown) is formed on the entire surface. The first column spacer 202 is positioned at a portion corresponding to the channel region of the thin film transistor of the first substrate 100 formed as described above.

In addition, a black matrix layer 111 is formed on the second substrate 110 to correspond to the gate line 11, the data line 102, and the thin film transistor region, and includes a second substrate including the black matrix layer 111. The color filter layer 112 is formed on the 110, and the common electrode 113 is further formed on the second substrate 110 including the black matrix layer 111 and the color filter layer 112.

In addition, a first column spacer 202 is further formed to correspond to the thin film transistor region, and a second column spacer 203 is further formed to correspond to a predetermined region on the gate line. In this case, the first and second column spacers 202 and 203 are manufactured in the same process of forming the column spacers with the same material and are formed at the same height. In this case, the first column spacer 202 has a small contact area with the first column spacer 202 corresponding to a region having a high step among the thin film transistor regions, and the second column spacer 203 has the It is formed corresponding to a predetermined portion of the upper portion of the gate line 101 and is formed without being in contact with the first substrate.

In this case, when the panel surface is pressed, the second column spacer 203 compensates for the pressing, and the first column spacer 202 serving as the cell gap holding function has the first panel with respect to the entire panel surface. By reducing the contact area with the substrate 100, and reducing the friction force to facilitate the restoration of the touch when the touch is improved.

In addition, the first and second column spacers 202 and 203 in the active region 120 are reduced in friction as the contact surface of the upper portion of the first substrate 100, which is the opposite substrate, decreases, so that the top surfaces of the first and second substrates are reduced. The phenomenon of peeling of this alignment film (not shown) can be minimized.

The planar structure of the liquid crystal display of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 15 corresponds to a TN mode. In some cases, in order to achieve the same purpose as described above, IPS (In-Plane Switching) mode may be applied. In the IPS mode, the pixel electrode and the common electrode are alternately formed in the pixel area, and an overcoat layer is formed on the second substrate instead of the common electrode on the color filter layer. Even when the IPS mode is applied, the positions of the first column spacer and the second column spacer have the same structure as that shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The liquid crystal display of the present invention as described above has the following effects.

First, by forming columnar or other shaped column spacers in the liquid crystal margin region, and partially filling the volume of the liquid crystal margin region, external force is generated on the surface of the liquid crystal panel or flows into the liquid crystal margin region under conditions such as high temperature. By limiting the amount of liquid crystal, it is possible to prevent unfilling caused by the liquid crystal not recovering to the active region again.

Second, the bubbles moved to the liquid crystal margin region together with the liquid crystal spreading outward through the dam pattern when the liquid crystal is deposited after being dropped are trapped between the column spacers by the column spacer which is an interference structure formed in the liquid crystal margin region. Reverse flow into the active region is prevented even under conditions such as temperature changes or external forces.

Third, in the active region, the first column spacer is formed at a portion corresponding to the channel of the thin film transistor, thereby minimizing the friction force between the column spacer and the opposing substrate while maintaining the cell gap, thereby improving touch defects. That is, when the first column spacer is disposed every six subpixels, the contact density is conventionally 0.242%, whereas when the structure of the present invention is applied, the contact density is reduced to about 1/6 to 0.043%, thereby restoring even after touch. It can be seen that the touch failure is significantly improved due to this ease.

Fourth, a second column spacer, which is not pressed against the opposing substrate even during bonding, is further formed on the gate line to prevent the deterioration of the depression in the active region, thereby preventing deformation of the column spacer, and when an external force greater than the pressure applied during bonding is applied. In addition to the first column spacer, a predetermined supporting force capable of maintaining the cell gap can be further secured.

Fifth, in the present invention, the contact area during bonding may be about 1/6 smaller than that of the prior art, so that the friction force between the column spacer and the opposing substrate is small, thereby minimizing the peeling phenomenon of the alignment layer.

Claims (24)

A first substrate and a second color filter array, each having a thin film transistor array formed in each active area, having an active region in the center and a liquid crystal margin region in an outer portion of the seal pattern. Board; A plurality of first column spacers formed in the active region and maintaining a cell gap between the first substrate and the second substrate; A dam pattern formed in the liquid crystal margin region and controlling spreading to an outer portion of the liquid crystal dropped in the center of the active region; And And a plurality of second column spacers formed in the liquid crystal margin region to prevent backflow of bubbles introduced into the liquid crystal margin region into the active region when the liquid crystal is spread. The method of claim 1, The plurality of second column spacers are disposed on a line in a first direction or a line in a second direction. Adjacent column spacers arranged in lines in the first direction are not parallel in the second direction, and adjacent column spacers arranged in lines in the second direction are not parallel in the first direction. . The method of claim 2, The four column spacers adjacent to each other in the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the second column spacers may be arranged in a parallelogram shape. The method of claim 2, And the separation distance between the second column spacers is smaller than a critical dimension of the second column spacers. The method of claim 4, wherein And the separation interval between the second column spacers is 1/2 of a critical dimension of the second column spacers. The method of claim 2, And the second column spacers have one direct pass line corresponding to a corner portion of the dam pattern. The method of claim 2, And the second column spacers have a mandrel shape. The method of claim 2, And the second column spacers are polygonal. The method of claim 1, The dam pattern may include a first dam pattern formed adjacent to the active region; And And a second dam pattern having an opening at an outer corner of the first dam pattern. The method of claim 9, And the second column spacer is formed between an outer edge of the second dam pattern and a seal pattern. The method of claim 1, The dam pattern may include a first dam pattern formed adjacent to the active region; A second dam pattern having an opening at an outer corner of the first dam pattern; And And a third dam pattern formed adjacent to the seal pattern. The method of claim 11, And the second column spacer is formed between an outside of the second dam pattern and a third dam pattern. The method of claim 1, And the first and second column spacers and the dam patterns are formed on the second substrate. The method of claim 1, And a black matrix layer is further formed in the liquid crystal margin region on the second substrate. The method of claim 1, The thin film transistor array A gate line and a data line crossing each other on the first substrate to define a pixel area; A thin film transistor formed at an intersection of the gate line and the data line; And a pixel electrode formed in the pixel area. The method of claim 15, The first column spacer is formed to correspond to the thin film transistor. The method of claim 15, And a third column spacer formed on the second substrate corresponding to the gate line or the data line. The method of claim 17, The third column spacer is spaced apart from the first substrate by a predetermined distance. The method of claim 15, The color filter array A black matrix layer formed on the second substrate to correspond to the non-pixel region and the black matrix layer; A color filter layer formed on the second substrate including the black matrix layer corresponding to the pixel area; And And a common electrode formed on the second substrate including the black matrix layer and the color filter layer. The method of claim 15, The thin film transistor array And a common electrode having an alternating shape with the pixel electrode in the pixel region. The method of claim 20, The color filter array A black matrix layer formed on the second substrate to correspond to the non-pixel region and the black matrix layer; A color filter layer formed on the second substrate including the black matrix layer corresponding to the pixel area; And And an overcoat layer formed on the entire surface of the second substrate including the black matrix layer and the color filter layer. The method of claim 1, The first and second column spacers and the dam pattern is formed of the same material. The method of claim 1, And the first and second column spacers and the dam pattern are formed at the same height. The method of claim 23, wherein And the first column spacer is in contact with the first substrate, and the second column spacer and the dam pattern are spaced apart from the first substrate.

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