Liquid crystal display panel and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A spherical spacer is used as a spacer member defining a gap, and is fixed to a color filter substrate. A concave portion coming in contact with a part of the spherical spacer is formed in a position in a TFT substrate, the position being opposite to the spherical spacer. The substrates are bonded with each other by engaging the spherical spacer and the concave portion with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages and further description of the invitation will be more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a plan view schematically showing a color filter substrate (CF substrate) of an LCD panel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a plan view schematically showing a TFT substrate of the LCD panel according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C is a flowchart for describing a method of manufacturing the LCD panel of the embodiment of the first present invention;

FIG. 1D is a flowchart for describing modified method of manufacturing the LCD panel of the embodiment of the first present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a first structure of an LCD panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a second structure of the LCD panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a third structure of the LCD panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a fourth structure of the LCD panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a fifth structure of the LCD panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a sixth structure of the LCD panel according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an LCD panel of a first related art;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an LCD panel of a second related art; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B are respectively a plan view and a cross-sectional view for describing problems in the LCD panels of the related arts.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display panel comprising: a pair of substrates opposite to each other, which hold a liquid crystal layer therebetween;a substantially spherical spacer fixed to a first one of the substrates; anda concave portion formed in a position in a second one of the substrates, the position being opposite to the spacer.

2. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 1, wherein the pair of the substrates are fixed in a state where the spacer and the concave portion are engaged with each other.

3. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion has a bottom surface substantially parallel to a plane of the second substrate and a side wall portion substantially perpendicular to the plane or inclined at a predetermined angle to the plane.

4. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion has a side wall portion inclined at a predetermined angle to a plane of the second substrate, anda cross-section of the concave portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane is V-shaped.

5. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein the concave portion has a stepped shape in which an area of an aperture of the concave portion gradually becomes smaller toward a bottom surface thereof.

6. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein an insulating film is formed in the second substrate, andthe concave portion is formed by removing a part of the insulating film.

7. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 6, wherein the concave portion penetrates the insulating film, anda ground of the insulating film is exposed to the outside.

8. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein the insulating film is a photosensitive organic film, andat least a part of the concave portion is formed in a curved surface.

9. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein the spacer is fixed to the first substrate with an adhesive member.

10. The liquid crystal display panel according to claim 2, wherein a black matrix layer shielding light from entering interstices between a plurality of pixels is formed on the first substrate, andthe spacer is fixed over the black matrix layer.

11. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel including a pair of substrates opposite to each other, which hold a liquid crystal layer therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: fixing a substantially spherical spacer to a first one of the substrates;forming a concave portion in a position in a second one of the substrates, the position being opposite to the spacer; andbonding the pair of the substrates with each other in a state where the liquid crystal layer is held therebetween.

12. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 11, wherein the pair of the substrates are bonded with each other in a state where the spacer and the concave portion are engaged with each other.

13. The method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein the bonding step includes the step of superposing the pair of the substrates in a state where the spacer and the concave portion are engaged with each other, and of aligning the pair of the substrates with each other.

14. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 13, wherein the concave portion has a bottom surface substantially parallel to a plane of the second substrate and a side wall portion substantially perpendicular to the plane or inclined at a predetermined angle to the plane.

15. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein the concave portion has a side wall portion inclined at a predetermined angle to a plane of the second substrate, anda cross-section of the concave portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane is V-shaped.

16. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein the concave portion has a stepped shape in which an area of an aperture of the concave portion gradually becomes smaller toward a bottom surface thereof.

17. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein an insulating film is formed in the second substrate, andthe concave portion is formed by removing a part of the insulating film.

18. The method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel according to claim 17, wherein the concave portion penetrates the insulating film, anda ground of the insulating film is exposed to the outside.

19. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein the insulating film is a photosensitive organic film, andat least a part of the concave portion is formed of a curved surface.

20. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein the fixing step includes: the step of coating the first substrate with an adhesive member; andthe step of fixing the spacer to the adhesive member.

21. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 12, wherein a black matrix layer shielding light from entering interstices between a plurality of pixels is formed on the first substrate, andthe spacer is fixed over the black matrix layer.

22. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 11, wherein the substantially spherical spacer is fixed to the first substrate, followed by forming an alignment film over the first substrate.

23. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 22, wherein the fixing step includes: the step of coating the first substrate with an adhesive member; andthe step of fixing the spacer to the adhesive member.

24. The method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display panel according to claim 11, wherein an alignment film is formed over the first substrate, followed by fixing the substantially spherical spacer to the first substrate.