WO2007111102A1 - Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A liquid crystal panel (10) is provided by sealing a liquid crystal (15) between a TFT substrate (21) and a CF substrate (22), and a distance between the both glass substrates (21, 22) is uniformly held by spacer particles (16). The spacer particles (16) are arranged on a placing region (50) arranged in a light blocking region on a gate wiring (21). In the placing region (50), a lattice-shaped flat pattern (53) is formed by using a dummy electrode (51) whereupon a lattice-shaped unevenness is arranged. The spacer particles (16) applied with an ink by an ink jet apparatus are adhered in a status where the particles are brought into contact with the flat pattern (53) by using surface tension of the flat pattern (53). Thus, in the liquid crystal panel (10), the spacer particles (16) can be arranged at desired positions in the light blocking area.

Description

 Specification

 Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing liquid crystal display device

 Technical field

 TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display device in which a spacing between transparent substrates is maintained by spacer particles.

 Background art

 A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between a glass substrate on which a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) is formed and a glass substrate on which RGB colors are distributed to form a color filter. Prepare. In such a liquid crystal panel, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer, that is, the cell gap, is required to have a uniform value in order to prevent uneven display of the liquid crystal panel. As a means for making this cell gap uniform, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, spherical spacer particles are arranged between glass substrates and the distance between them is kept constant. Is manufactured.

 Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-10412

 Disclosure of the invention

[0003] (Problems to be solved by the invention)

 However, if such spherical spacer particles are mixed into the display area of the liquid crystal display device, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules in the display area may be disturbed, which may impair the display quality. For this reason, it is desirable to arrange the spacer particles in a light shielding region that is not involved in image display as much as possible, but it is difficult to arrange the spherical spacer particles in a desired location such as a light shielding region. there were.

 [0004] The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a liquid crystal display device in which spacer particles are arranged at desired locations.

 [0005] (Means for solving the problem)

As means for achieving the above object, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention comprises a pair of transparent substrates, a liquid crystal sealed between the transparent substrates, and the transparent substrates in a predetermined manner. It is characterized by having a planar pattern formed by unevenness on the surface of the light-shielding region of the transparent substrate, and having a planar pattern in contact with the spacer particles.

 [0006] Further, in the method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a planar pattern having irregularities is formed on the surface of the light shielding region of at least one of the transparent substrates, and the one transparent substrate is formed on the one transparent substrate. On the other hand, spacer particles are applied together with ink toward an area including the planar pattern, the ink is dried to adhere the spacer particles to the planar pattern, and the pair of transparent substrates is attached to the pair of transparent substrates. It is characterized in that the spacer particles are overlapped with a predetermined interval by sandwiching the spacer particles, and the liquid crystal is sealed in a gap between the pair of transparent substrates.

 [0007] According to the present invention, the following effects are exhibited.

 The spacer particles are sprayed together with the ink by a coating device such as an ink jet device and coated on the transparent substrate, and then the ink is dried to be disposed on the transparent substrate. Then, when ink containing spacer particles is applied to the flat pattern of the light shielding area, if at least a part of the ink droplets adheres to the flat pattern, the ink droplets are caused by the surface tension of the irregularities of the flat pattern. Accordingly, the spacer particles in the droplet are also attracted to the plane pattern and attached to the plane pattern, so that the spacer particles can be set in the light shielding region.

 Accordingly, the spacer particles can be disposed at a desired location.

 Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view of a glass substrate (TFT substrate) of Embodiment 1.

 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX ′ in FIG.

 [FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing the placement region in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner.

 FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a dummy electrode.

 FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a mounting area according to the second embodiment.

 FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a mounting area according to the third embodiment.

 FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a placement area according to the fourth embodiment.

 FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a placement area according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a placement area according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view of a placement area according to the seventh embodiment.

 FIG. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the eighth embodiment.

 FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a mounting area according to the ninth embodiment.

 FIG. 13 is an enlarged plan view showing a placement area according to the tenth embodiment.

 Explanation of symbols

[0009] 10 ... Liquid crystal display device

 15 ... LCD

 16 Spacer particles

 20 ... Transparent substrate

 20A—TFT substrate (transparent substrate)

 20B ... CF substrate (transparent substrate)

 21 ... Gate wiring (electrode wire)

 22 ... Source wiring (electrode wire)

 25 ... transistor

 26 ... Dye

 27 ... BM part (black area)

 53… Plane pattern

 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] <Embodiment 1>

 Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

 The liquid crystal panel 10 (liquid crystal display device) of the present embodiment includes a pair of glass substrates 20 and 20 and a liquid crystal 15 filled between the glass substrates 20 and 20, and the glass substrates 20 and 20 face each other. The liquid crystal 15 is sandwiched by sealing the outer periphery of the surface side with a sealing agent (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, a gate wiring 21 and a source wiring 22 that are orthogonal to each other are formed on one glass substrate (TFT substrate) 20A among the glass substrates 20, and both the wirings are connected to each other. Many connected switching elements (eg TFT) 25 are provided (only one location is shown in FIG. 1). [0012] Further, the other glass substrate (CF substrate) 20B facing the TFT substrate 20A is provided with R, G, B dyes 26 regularly, and between adjacent dyes 26 and between the dyes. Light is not leaking around the area where 26 is placed! / A black filter is used to form a BM (black 'matrix) part 27 and form a color filter! RU

 [0013] The liquid crystal panel 10 is manufactured by adhering the spacer particles 16 to the light-shielding region of the TFT substrate 20A and then sandwiching the spacer particles 16 with the CF substrate 20B. The two glass substrates 20A and 20B are overlapped (laminated) with a gap. Then, the liquid crystal 15 is sealed in a gap (cell gap) secured between the glass substrates 20A and 20B.

 The spacer particles 16 are spherical bodies made of synthetic resin, and the surfaces thereof are coated with an adhesive material. The spacer particles 16 are contained in the ink by an ink jet coating apparatus (not shown). It is applied to the application area containing the top pattern 53 above.

 In the present embodiment, the spacer particles 16 are arranged in a placement region 50 provided in a light shielding region on the gate wiring 21.

 The mounting area 50 includes a plurality of parallel lines extending in the horizontal direction of FIG. 1 (the direction of the gate wiring 21) (in this embodiment, the number is three, but the number may be larger or smaller). A plurality of parallel projections 53a extending along the vertical direction (source wiring 22 direction) (the number of forces, which is 11 in this embodiment, may be larger or smaller) and 53a It consists of a grid-like planar pattern 53 formed so that the two intersect. The planar pattern 53 has a rectangular shape with the long side in the horizontal direction (the length direction of the gate wiring 21) as a whole, and a plurality of concave portions 53b having a fixed size are arranged vertically and horizontally. Yes. The plurality of recesses 53b may be staggered or randomly arranged. The spacer particles 16 are arranged in contact with the surface of the protrusion 53a between the lattices (concave portions 53b) or the surface of the protrusion 53a around the lattice (concave portion 53b).

 In the present embodiment, the placement region 50 is disposed above the gate wiring 21, is formed simultaneously with the source wiring 22, and uses a dummy electrode 51 that is not involved in a circuit for liquid crystal display. Formed.

More specifically, the dummy electrode 51 is a TaZTaN film that forms the source electrode of the transistor 25. The film is formed simultaneously with sputtering. Then, the TaZTaN film is appropriately removed at predetermined locations by a photolithographic process to form irregularities, and is formed into a lattice-like planar pattern 53 as shown in FIG. This flat pattern 53 restricts the ink droplets applied in the placement area 50 from being dispersed, adsorbs the ink droplets, and consequently the spacer particles 16 contained in the ink. The droplet holding means has a function of collecting the droplets. Then, the insulating film 52 is formed on the upper surface of the dummy electrode 51, whereby the placement region 50 having the lattice-shaped uneven planar pattern 53 is formed on the liquid crystal sealing surface side of the TFT substrate 20A.

In the present embodiment, the light-shielding region refers to a region that does not participate in image display of the liquid crystal display device. Specifically, the region on the gate wiring 21 and the source wiring 22 and the region of the BM unit 27 are defined. Say.

 In addition, although not shown, the liquid crystal panel 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a polarizing plate and a knock light device. An anisotropic conductive film (ACF) -SOF is connected to the gate wiring 21 and the source wiring 22 of the TFT substrate 20A. A printed circuit board (with an external control circuit) is connected via (System On Film). As a result, an image is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 10.

 [0017] Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.

 Ink containing the spacer particles 16 is ejected toward the placement area 50 by the ink jet coating apparatus. Then, ink droplets adhere to the placement area 50. As the ink dries, the ink droplet diameter gradually decreases. At this time, if ink droplets adhere to the grid-like planar pattern 53 of the placement area 50, the droplets adhere so as to stick due to the surface tension of the wall surface of the planar pattern 53.

 [0018] Then, when the drying of the ink proceeds in this state, since the surface tension of the wall surface acts on the ink, as the droplet diameter of the ink becomes smaller, the entire droplet drops on the wall surface of the flat pattern 53. Approaching.

 As a result, the spacer particles 16 contained in the droplet gradually approach the wall surface of the flat pattern 53, and after the ink is dried, the spacer particles 16 are in contact with the wall surface of the flat pattern 53. Will adhere in a state.

Such surface tension is caused by the intersection of a horizontal wall with many walls and a vertical wall. Since the surface area is relatively larger and the force acts more strongly, the spacer particles 16 are likely to adhere to the intersecting portions of the lattice-shaped wall surfaces.

[0020] Further, even if the spacer particle 16 itself is landed at a position shifted from the placement region 50 by the ink jet coating apparatus, a part of the ink droplet containing the spacer particle 16 has a planar pattern. 53, the droplet is pulled by the surface tension at that location, and the spacer particles 16 in the droplet are also attracted to the flat pattern 53 side. It will adhere to the wall.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, if at least a part of the ink droplets adheres to the planar pattern 53 of the placement region when the spacer particles 16 are applied, the surface tension of the planar pattern 53 is increased. Therefore, the ink droplets are attracted, and the spacer particles 16 in the droplets are also attracted to the planar pattern 53, so that the spacer particles 16 can be arranged at desired locations in the light shielding area. It becomes.

 [0022] Also, in the case of the lattice-like planar pattern 53 as in the present embodiment, the surface area of the portion where the wall surfaces intersect with each other increases, so the surface direct force increases and the spacer particles are attracted reliably. Therefore, the spacer particles can be reliably disposed at a desired location.

 <Embodiment 2>

 Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

 This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a protrusion 53Aa and a recess 53Ab are formed on the gate wiring 21 instead of the unevenness formed on the dummy electrode 51. Other similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

 In the present embodiment, when the gate wiring 21 is formed, the TaNZTaZTaN film of the gate wiring 21 is appropriately removed by a photolithographic process to form unevenness, and an insulating film 52 is formed on the upper surface thereof, thereby forming a lattice-shaped unevenness. The placement region 50A having the planar pattern 53A is formed. The placement region 50A thus formed also allows the spacer particles 16 to be disposed at a desired location as in the first embodiment. .

<Embodiment 3> FIG. ⁶ shows Embodiment ^{3 of the} present invention.

 In this embodiment, the spacer particles 16 are arranged on the CF substrate 20B instead of the TFT substrate 20A, and the mounting region 50B is formed on the BM portion 27, which is different from the first and second embodiments. To do. Other similar configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

 In the present embodiment, when the BM portion 27 is formed, the surface portion of the BM portion is partially removed by the photolithographic process to form the unevenness, and the placement region 50B (uneven surface pattern 50B) is formed. Is done.

 Also with the mounting region 50B formed in this way, the spacer particles 16 can be disposed at desired locations as in the first and second embodiments.

<Embodiment 4>

FIG. ⁷ shows Embodiment ^{4 of the} present invention.

 The concave / convex planar pattern 53C (mounting region 50C) of the present embodiment has a horizontally long rectangular shape as a whole, and the concave portion 53Cb has an elongated shape parallel to the long side.

<Embodiment 5>

FIG. ⁸ shows Embodiment ^{5 of the} present invention.

 The concave / convex planar pattern 53D (mounting region 50D) of the present embodiment has a horizontally long rectangular shape as a whole, and the concave portion 53Db has an elongated shape parallel to the short side.

<Embodiment 6>

FIG. ⁹ shows Embodiment ^{6 of the} present invention.

 The concave / convex planar pattern 53E (mounting region 50E) of the present embodiment has a horizontally long rectangular shape as a whole, and the concave portion 53Eb has a generally rectangular shape in which the four corners are notched into a tapered shape at an angle of 45 °. . The plurality of recesses 53Eb are arranged vertically and horizontally.

<Embodiment 7>

 FIG. 10 shows Embodiment 7 of the present invention.

The concave / convex planar pattern 53F (mounting region 50F) of the present embodiment has a horizontally long rectangular shape as a whole, and the concave portion 53Fb has a substantially rectangular shape with four corners projecting inwardly into a square. The plurality of recesses 53Fb are aligned in the vertical and horizontal directions. <Embodiment 8>

 FIG. 11 shows Embodiment 8 of the present invention.

 The concave / convex planar pattern 53G (mounting region 50G) of the present embodiment is formed by the concave / convex provided on the surface on the side where the liquid crystal 15 is sealed in the auxiliary capacitance electrode line 54 of the auxiliary capacitance (storage capacitance or additional capacitance). Has been. The planar pattern 53G is a form in which two concave portions 53Gb are arranged in the length direction of the auxiliary capacitance electrode line 54, and has a horizontally long rectangular shape as a whole. In addition, you may replace this uneven | corrugated planar pattern 53G with the form of Embodiment 4-7. In addition, as the planar pattern 53G on the auxiliary capacitance electrode line 54, a plurality of recesses 53b can be arranged vertically, horizontally, staggered, or randomly.

<Embodiment 9>

 FIG. 12 shows Embodiment 9 of the present invention.

 FIG. 5 shows a modification of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the concave portions 53Aa are arranged in two rows, whereas the concave and convex planar pattern 53H (mounting region 50H) of the present embodiment The parts 53Hb are arranged in a line.

<Embodiment 10>

 FIG. 13 shows Embodiment 10 of the present invention.

 On the CF substrate 20B, a color filter is configured by dividing a plurality of pixels 26 by a grid-like black region 27 (black 'matrix), and the pigment 26 on the CF substrate 20B side is seen in plan view on the TFT substrate 20A. An electrode wire 60 is provided so as to cross the line. The uneven planar pattern 531 (mounting region 50) of the present embodiment is formed by unevenness provided on the surface of the electrode line 60 on the side where the liquid crystal 15 is sealed. The concave / convex planar pattern 531 has the same configuration as the concave / convex planar pattern 53 of the first embodiment, but instead, the concave / convex planar pattern 531 may have the form of the fourth to ninth embodiments.

[0032] <Other Embodiments>

 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and are within the scope not departing from the gist other than the following. Various modifications can be made.

(1) In the above embodiment, the unevenness was formed using the photo's lithographic process. For example, the irregularities may be formed by laser processing.

 (2) In the above embodiment, the dummy electrode 51, the gate wiring 21, the BM part 27, and the storage wiring 54 are used to form irregularities. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the source wiring 22 (forming the circuit) and the ITO electrode are etched. For example, the mounting region 50 may be formed by forming irregularities by using the above method.

 (3) In the above embodiment, the spacer particles are applied to one of the TFT substrate and the CF substrate, but may be applied to both the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. In this case, the spacer particles arranged on the TFT substrate and the spacer particles arranged on the CF substrate may be arranged so as not to interfere with each other.

 (4) In the above embodiment, the shape of the planar pattern 53 formed in the placement area is a lattice shape. However, the shape is not limited to this, and for example, all or one part around the arc-shaped planar pattern 53 or the light shielding area. A frame-like shape surrounding the portion may be used. Further, it may have a shape in which lattice-shaped, frame-shaped, or arc-shaped projections are mixed.

Claims

The scope of the claims  [1] a pair of transparent substrates;  Liquid crystal sealed between the transparent substrates;  Spacer particles that hold the transparent substrates at predetermined intervals,  A liquid crystal display device comprising a planar pattern formed by unevenness on a surface of a light-shielding region of the transparent substrate and in contact with the spacer particles.  [2] On one transparent substrate of the pair of transparent substrates, a transistor and an electrode wire that electrically connects an electrode of the transistor to an external circuit are provided,  2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the planar pattern is formed by unevenness provided on a surface of the electrode line on the side of sealing the liquid crystal. [3] On one transparent substrate of the pair of transparent substrates, when a plurality of pigments are disposed, a color filter having a black region is formed between the neighboring pigments, and the planar pattern is 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed by unevenness provided on a surface of the black region on a side of sealing the liquid crystal. 4.  [4] On one transparent substrate of the pair of transparent substrates, a color filter in a form in which a plurality of pigments partitioned by a grid-like black region is disposed is formed.  The other transparent substrate is provided with an electrode line arranged so as to cross the pigment, and the planar pattern is formed by concave and convex portions provided on a surface of the electrode line on the side of sealing the liquid crystal. The liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid crystal display device is misplaced. [5] On one transparent substrate of the pair of transparent substrates, an auxiliary capacitance electrode wire of an auxiliary capacitance is provided,  The range according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the planar pattern is formed by unevenness provided on a surface of the auxiliary capacitance electrode line on the side where the liquid crystal is sealed. A liquid crystal display device according to any one of the above. [6] The first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the planar pattern has a lattice shape. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5. [7] The liquid crystal display device according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the planar pattern has an arc shape. [8] A planar pattern having irregularities is formed on the surface of the light-shielding region of at least one of the pair of transparent substrates,  On one transparent substrate, spacer particles are applied together with ink toward an area including the planar pattern,  The ink is dried to adhere the spacer particles to the planar pattern, and the pair of transparent substrates are overlapped with a predetermined interval by sandwiching the spacer particles,  A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, wherein a liquid crystal is sealed in a gap between the pair of transparent substrates superimposed.