Transflective liquid crystal display devices and fabrication methods thereof

Abstract

Transflective liquid crystal displays and fabrication methods thereof. A single gap transflective liquid crystal display includes a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmissive region. A second substrate opposes the first substrate with a gap therebetween. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second substrates. A color filter is disposed on the first substrate, wherein the color filter is thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflective region, wherein a recess is formed at the reflective region. A first alignment layer is conformably formed on the color filter, forming a second recess in the reflective region. The second recess is filled with a second alignment, wherein the first and second alignment layers provide different orientations and pre-tilt angles for the liquid crystal layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a conventional transflective LCD device with different alignment layer on the reflective and the transmissive regions respectively;

FIGS. 2A-2B are cross sections of transflective LCD devices according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of fabricating a transflective LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C are cross sections showing fabrication steps for a color filter substrate structure of a transflective LCD device according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 5A-5D are cross sections showing fabrication steps for a color filter substrate structure of a transflective LCD device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. A transflective liquid crystal display device, comprising: a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmissive region;a second substrate opposing the first substrate with a gap therebetween;a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and the second substrates;a color filter disposed on the first substrate, wherein the color filter is thicker in the transmissive region than at the reflective region, and wherein a first recess is formed in the reflective region;a first alignment layer conformably disposed on the color filter, wherein a second recess is formed at the reflective region; anda second alignment layer filled the second recess;wherein pre-tilt angles and orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the first alignment layer and on the second alignment layer are different.

2. The transflective liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display device is a single gap transflective liquid crystal display device.

3. The transflective liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a polarity of the first alignment layer is opposite to the polarity of the second alignment layer.

4. The transflective liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer comprise polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyurea (PU), nylon, or lecithin.

5. The transflective liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer provides a vertically liquid crystal molecule orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecule is pre-tilted 75-90 degrees against the first alignment layer; and wherein the second alignment layer provides a horizontally liquid crystal molecule orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecule is pre-tilted 0-15 degrees against the second alignment layer.

6. The transflective liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first alignment layer provides a horizontally liquid crystal molecule orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecule is pre-tilted 0-15 degrees against the first alignment layer; and wherein the second alignment layer provides a vertically liquid crystal molecule orientation, wherein a longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecule is pre-tilted 75-90 degrees against the second alignment layer.

7. The transflective liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a transparent electrode interposed between the color filter and the first alignment layer.

8. A method for fabricating a transflective liquid crystal display device, comprising: providing a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmissive region;forming a color filter on the first substrate, wherein the color filter is thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflective region, and wherein a first recess is formed in the reflective region;conformably forming a first alignment layer on the color filter, wherein a second recess is formed in the reflective region;forming a second alignment layer on the first alignment layer and filling the second recess;assembling a second substrate opposing the first substrate with a gap therebetween; andfilling a liquid crystal layer between the first and the second substrates;wherein pre-tilt angles and orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the first alignment layer and on the second alignment layer are different.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display device is a single gap transflective liquid crystal display device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein a polarity of the first alignment layer is opposite to the polarity of the second alignment layer.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer comprise polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyurea (PU), nylon, or lecithin.

12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first alignment layer is formed by roller coating, spin coating, spraying, or inkjet printing on the first substrate.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, after the first alignment layer is formed on the first substrate, further comprising a soft baking procedure and a hard baking procedure.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second alignment layer is formed by spraying, or inkjet printing on the first alignment layer.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, after the second alignment layer is formed on the first alignment layer, further comprising a soft baking procedure and a hard baking procedure.

16. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first alignment layer provides a vertical liquid crystal molecule orientation and the second alignment layer provides a horizontal liquid crystal molecule orientation, or wherein the first alignment layer provides a horizontal liquid crystal molecule orientation and the second alignment layer provides a vertical liquid crystal molecule orientation.

17. A method for fabricating a transflective liquid crystal display device, comprising: providing a first substrate with a reflective region and a transmissive region;forming a transparent protrusion in the reflective region of the first substrate;forming a color filter on the first substrate covering the transparent protrusion, wherein the color filter is thicker in the transmissive region than in the reflective region, and wherein a first recess is formed in the transmissive region;conformably forming a first alignment layer on the color filter, wherein a second recess is formed in the transmissive region;forming a second alignment layer on the first alignment layer and filling the second recess;assembling a second substrate opposing the first substrate with a gap therebetween; andfilling a liquid crystal layer between the first and the second substrates;wherein pre-tilt angles and orientations of liquid crystal molecules on the first alignment layer and on the second alignment layer are different.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the transflective liquid crystal display device is a single gap transflective liquid crystal display device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein a polarity of the first alignment layer is opposite to the polarity of the second alignment layer.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer comprise polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyimide (PI), polyamide (PA), polyurea (PU), nylon, or lecithin.

21. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first alignment layer is formed by roller coating, spin coating, spraying, or inkjet printing on the first substrate.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, after the first alignment layer is formed on the first substrate, further comprising a soft baking procedure and a hard baking procedure.

23. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the second alignment layer is formed by spraying, or inkjet printing on the first alignment layer.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, after the second alignment layer is formed on the first alignment layer, further comprising a soft baking procedure and a hard baking procedure.

25. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first alignment layer provides a vertical liquid crystal molecule orientation and the second alignment layer provides a horizontal liquid crystal molecule orientation, or wherein the first alignment layer provides a horizontal liquid crystal molecule orientation and the second alignment layer provides a vertical liquid crystal molecule orientation.