Patent Application
20080117369
The present invention relates to liquid crystal display panels, and more particularly to a liquid crystal panel with step-shaped spacers located at a thin film transistor substrate of the liquid crystal display panel.
Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have the advantages of portability, low power consumption, and low radiation. Therefore, liquid crystal displays have been widely used in common daily life. Typically, a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel, which has a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate and a color filter substrate.
During the process of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel 1, the ball-shaped spacers 14 are generally sprayed at the second substrate 12. That is, the ball-shaped spacers 14 may not locate at the second substrate 12 uniformly, thus a distance between the first and second substrates 11, 12 may vary with the density of the spacers 14. For example, if few or no spacers 14 are located at certain portion of the liquid crystal display panel 1, the distance between the first and second substrates 11, 12 at the portion may decrease without supporting of the spacers 14. As a result, liquid crystal display panel 1 may generate light leakage at the portion.
Referring to
The TFT substrate 21 includes a plurality of date lines (not shown), a plurality of gate lines (not shown), and a plurality of TFTs (not shown). Due to different manufacture processes, the TFTs are generally higher than the gate lines and the date lines. The color filter substrate 22 includes a color filter layer 25, a coating layer 241, and a common electrode layer 240 disposed in that order from top to bottom. A plurality of cylindrical spacers 24 is formed at the common electrode layer 240 corresponding to positions of the gate lines, the date lines, and the TFTs. The cylindrical spacers 24 are provided for supporting the color filter substrate 22. In order to keep a consistent distance between the TFT and color filter substrates 21, 22, the cylindrical spacers 24 have different heights corresponding to the gate lines, the date lines, and the TFTs. That is, a height of the cylindrical spacers 24 corresponding to the gate lines and the date lines is higher than that of the cylindrical spacers 24 corresponding to the TFTs.
During the process of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel 2, the color filter substrate 22 is attached to the TFT substrate 21 with the cylindrical spacers 24 contacting corresponding gate lines, date lines, and TFTs. However, it is difficult for the cylindrical spacers 24 to accurately align with the gate lines, the date lines, and the TFTs. Once the cylindrical spacers 24 are misaligned, the cylindrical spacers 24 corresponding to the gate lines or the data lines may disposed at the TFTs at certain portion. As a result, the distance between the TFT substrate 21 and the color filter substrate 22 may increase at the portion. Therefore, the liquid crystal display panel 2 may generate light leakage at the portion.
What is needed, therefore, is a liquid crystal display panel that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate disposed generally opposite to the first substrate, and a plurality of step-shaped spacers. The first substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of date lines, and a plurality of thin film transistors. The second substrate includes a smooth surface facing the first substrate. The step-shaped spacers are located at the first substrates for supporting the second substrate.
A liquid crystal display panel includes a thin film transistor substrate, a color filter substrate disposed generally opposite to the thin film transistor substrate, and a plurality of step-shaped spacers. The step-shaped spacers are located at the thin film transistor substrate for supporting the second substrate. The thin film transistor substrate and the color filter substrates define a consistent cell gap therebetween.
Other novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the preferred and exemplary embodiments in detail.
The first and second spacers 451, 453 are provided between the first and second substrates 41, 43 for supporting the second substrate 43. Thereby, the first and second substrates 41, 43 define a cell gap (not labeled) therebetween for receiving the liquid crystal layer 47. Each of the first and second spacers 451, 453 has at least one step. The first and second spacers 451, 453 may be made of acrylic polymer or epoxy polymer.
The second substrate 43 includes a color filter layer (not labeled), a coating layer 435, and a common electrode layer 437 disposed in that order from top to bottom. The color filter layer includes a plurality of color filter units 433, and a black matrix 431 alternately arranged with the color filter units 433.
The first substrate 41 includes a plurality of data lines 412 parallel to each other and extending along a first direction; a plurality of gate lines 411 parallel to each other and extending along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a plurality of pixel units (not labeled) defined by the intersecting gate lines 411 and data lines 412. The gate lines 411 and the data lines 412 are located at the first substrate 41 facing the black matrix 431.
Each pixel unit includes a pixel electrode 413 and a TFT 414. In each pixel unit, a gate electrode (not labeled) of the TFT 414 is electrically connected to one corresponding gate line 411, and a source electrode (not labeled) of the TFT 414 is electrically connected to one corresponding data line 412. Further, a drain electrode (not labeled) of the TFT 414 is electrically connected to one corresponding pixel electrode 413. Each of the first spacers 451 locates at an intersecting portion (not labeled) of the gate lines 411 and the data lines 412. Each of the second spacers 453 locates at one of the TFTs 414.
Referring also to
The first protrusion 451 has a symmetrical structure. The first protrusion 451 includes a first supporting surface 4513, a first step 4515, and a second step 4517 at one side thereof. The first and second steps 4515, 4517 are arranged in that order from top to bottom. The first supporting surface 4513 is provided for supporting the second substrate 43. The first and second steps 4515, 4517 are provided for absorbing external impact forces applied at the first spacer 451. When external impact forces are applied at the first spacer 451, the first step 4515 has a compression ratio varied in the range from 0% to 20%, the second step 4517 have a compression ratio varied in the range from 0% to 10%.
Referring also to
The second supporting surface 4533 is provided for supporting the second substrate 43. The third and fourth steps 4535, 4537 are provided for absorbing external impact forces applied at the second spacer 453. When external impact forces are applied at the second spacer 453, the third step 4535 has a compression ratio varied in the range from 0% to 20%, the fourth step 4537 have a compression ratio varied in the range from 0% to 10%.
Referring to
As detailed above, the first spacers 451 are located on the first protrusions defined by the gate lines 411, the data lines 412, and the insulating layer. The second spacers 453 are located on the second protrusions defined by the TFTs 414. Because the data lines 412, the gate lines 411, and the TFTs 414 are located at the first substrate 41 regularly, the first and second spacers 451, 453 are located at the first substrate 41 uniformly.
Furthermore, the first and second supporting surfaces 4513, 4533 of the first and second spacers 451, 453 are provided for supporting the second substrate 43. The common electrode layer 437 of the second substrate 43 is generally a smooth layer. Therefore, during the process of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel 4, the first substrate 41 may accurately align with the second substrate 43. As a result, the distance between the first and second substrates 41, 43 is uniform. That is, the liquid crystal display panel 4 may leak fewer or no light, this increases contrast ratio of the liquid crystal display panel 4.
When external impact forces are applied at the second substrate 43, the first and second spacers 451, 453 are compressed by the impact forces, thus the first and second spacers 451, 453 function as springs. Therefore, the first and second spacers 451, 453 may absorb the impact forces applied at the second substrate 43. As a result, the liquid crystal display panel 4 avoids being damaged by the impact forces applied thereon.
The first and second spacers 451, 453 have steps. The first supporting surface 4513 of the first spacer 451 and the second supporting surface 4533 of the second spacer 453 are provided for supporting the second substrate 43. That is, the first and second spacers 451, 453 have smaller contact areas with the second substrate 43. As a result, smaller dots are generated by friction forces between the second substrate 43 and the first and second spacers 451, 453.
Various modifications and alterations to the above-described embodiments are possible. For example, the first and second spacers 451, 453 may locate at the gate lines 411 or the data lines 412. The first and second spacers 451, 453 may have domed shape.
It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95142992 | Nov 2006 | TW | national |
