CN102183855B - Color cholesteric liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a patterned fence structure with multi-color cholesteric liquid crystal channels, which comprises: the patterned fence structure comprises a whole block area, so that the patterned fence structure is separated into a first liquid crystal channel with a first liquid crystal injection port, a closed second liquid crystal channel and a closed third liquid crystal channel, wherein the length of the first liquid crystal channel is greater than that of the second liquid crystal channel, the length of the second liquid crystal channel is greater than that of the third liquid crystal channel, and the material of the patterned fence structure comprises a photoresist material.

Description

Color cholesteric liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof

This application document is a divisional application of the No. 200710103465.X invention patent application submitted on May 18, 2007.

technical field

The invention relates to a liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method thereof, in particular to a single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method thereof.

Background technique

Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) have many advantages, such as small size, light weight, low power consumption, and so on. Therefore, LCDs have been widely used in electronic products such as laptop computers and mobile phones. That is, the liquid crystal display technology is continuously developing towards the field of being light, thin and easy to carry. Traditional reflective colored liquid crystal displays with memory effects have been widely used in e-books, e-paper or other display fields. The structure and manufacturing method of the traditional color cholesteric liquid crystal display uses red (R), green (G), blue (B) three-layer liquid crystal stack structure, with a variety of different driving methods. However, the use of red, green, and blue liquid crystal stack structures causes parallax phenomenon, which may cause difficulty in aligning the panel structure during manufacturing, increase the difficulty of electrode design, inability to bend, and inconvenient portability, resulting in complicated processes and high manufacturing costs.

Therefore, adopting the structure and process design of a single-layer colored cholesteric liquid crystal display can effectively avoid parallax, reduce process and cost, especially for applications such as color flexible displays. U.S. Patent No. 5,825,451 discloses a single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display, which uses a photodecomposable/polymerizable optical active agent combined with a single-layer cholesteric structure, and can destroy or reduce a single area by UV irradiation The content of the optical active agent can be increased to achieve the effect of single-layer colorization. However, such a display is easily affected by ambient light, which reduces its stability.

U.S. Patent No. 6,741,321 discloses a liquid crystal display device, which utilizes a known single-layer double-substrate assembly structure method to inject liquid crystals in lanes, which may easily cause liquid crystals of different colors to overflow, and then form liquid crystal color mixing, resulting in chromatic aberration.

FIG. 1A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display device. In FIG. 1A , a conventional single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display panel 2 includes a gap between a lower substrate 6 and an upper substrate 12 disposed opposite to each other. A fence structure 8 is disposed between the lower substrate 6 and the upper substrate 12 and is divided into a plurality of elongated color sub-pixel liquid crystal channels. The lower substrate 6 is provided with a first electrode 4 and an alignment layer 14 , and the upper substrate 12 is provided with a second electrode 10 and an alignment layer 14 , wherein the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 10 are arranged in directions perpendicular to each other.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the lower substrate of the single-layer cholesteric liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1A . In FIG. 1B , the fence structure 8 separates a plurality of (R, G, B) strip-shaped color sub-pixel liquid crystal channels C _R , C _G and C _B . The orthogonal sections 16 and 18 are arranged on the liquid crystal channels C _G and C _B so that one end thereof is closed. After the upper and lower substrates are assembled, the _second end L2 of the fence structure 8 is sealed with a sealing material so that the liquid crystal channels _{CG and CB form a completely closed structure, and the first end L1 of the liquid crystal channel C R is exposed as} a liquid crystal injection port. Then sequentially pour liquid crystals of each color into the liquid crystal channels C _R , C _G , and C _B and seal them. However, before the traditional single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal is filled, the second end of the fence structure must be sealed first, and when the liquid crystal is injected into the lanes, it is easy to cause overflow of liquid crystals of different colors, and then form liquid crystal color mixing, resulting in chromatic aberration. .

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the present invention provides a color cholesteric liquid crystal display device and a manufacturing method. A fence structure is designed on the substrate to form liquid crystal injection channels of different lengths, and then a layer of adhesive material is coated on the opposite substrate for assembly. stand. By cutting, pouring red, green and blue liquid crystals and sealing processes, the overflow and chromatic aberration of different colors of liquid crystals are avoided.

The present invention also provides a color cholesteric liquid crystal display device, comprising a first substrate disposed opposite to a second substrate with a gap therebetween; a patterned fence structure disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate The space is divided into a plurality of strip-shaped color sub-pixel liquid crystal channels: and color cholesteric liquid crystals of various colors are filled in the corresponding strip-shaped color sub-pixel liquid crystal channels; wherein the patterned fence structure and the second An adhesive layer is provided between the substrates to prevent adjacent sub-pixel liquid crystal channels from overflowing.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a color cholesteric liquid crystal display device, comprising: providing a first substrate; forming a patterned fence structure on the first substrate, wherein the patterned fence structure includes a plurality of wall-like structures , one end of each wall-like structure is perpendicular to a straight closed end to isolate a first liquid crystal channel with a first opening, a closed second liquid crystal channel and a closed third liquid crystal channel, wherein the first liquid crystal channel The length is greater than the length of the second liquid crystal channel, and the length of the second liquid crystal channel is greater than the length of the third liquid crystal channel; providing a second substrate and forming an adhesive layer thereon; combining the first substrate and the second substrate , making the bonding layer closely bonded to the patterned fence structure; pouring a first color liquid crystal into the first liquid crystal channel from the first opening and sealing the first liquid crystal channel with a first packaging adhesive; applying the first The cutting step exposes the second liquid crystal channel to the second opening; pouring a second color liquid crystal into the second liquid crystal channel from the second opening and sealing the second liquid crystal channel with a second packaging glue; performing a second cutting step exposing the third liquid crystal channel to the third opening; and pouring a third color liquid crystal into the third liquid crystal channel from the third opening and sealing the third liquid crystal channel with a third packaging glue.

The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a color cholesteric liquid crystal display device, comprising: providing a first substrate; forming a patterned fence structure on the first substrate, wherein the patterned fence structure includes a plurality of wall-like structures , one end of each wall-like structure is perpendicular to a straight closed end to isolate a first liquid crystal channel with a first opening, a closed second liquid crystal channel and a closed third liquid crystal channel, wherein the first liquid crystal channel The length is greater than the length of the second liquid crystal channel, and the length of the second liquid crystal channel is greater than the length of the third liquid crystal channel; providing a second substrate and forming an adhesive layer thereon; combining the first substrate and the second substrate , making the adhesive layer closely bonded to the patterned fence structure; pouring a first color polymer-dispersed liquid crystal into the first liquid crystal channel from the first liquid crystal injection port; polymerizing the first color polymer-dispersed liquid crystal; Performing a first cutting step to expose the second liquid crystal channel to a second opening; pouring a second color polymer-dispersed liquid crystal into the second liquid crystal channel from the second liquid crystal injection port; polymerizing the second color polymer-dispersed liquid crystal liquid crystal; performing a second cutting step to expose the third liquid crystal channel to a third opening; pouring a third color polymer dispersed liquid crystal into the third liquid crystal channel from the third opening; and polymerizing the third color polymer dispersed liquid crystal type LCD.

In order to make the present invention more comprehensible, the following specific embodiments are described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

1A is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a conventional single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing the lower substrate of the single-layer cholesteric liquid crystal display device shown in FIG. 1A;

2 is a flow chart showing the fabrication of a single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3A to 3D are schematic diagrams showing various steps before the step of assembling substrates according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic diagram showing a fence structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a substrate bonded along cutting line A-A according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

6A to 6C are schematic diagrams showing the filling steps of various color liquid crystals according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of main component symbols

Knowledge part (Figure 1A～1B)

2～Traditional single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display panel;

4 ~ the first electrode;

6 ~ lower substrate;

8 ~ Fence structure;

10 ~ the second electrode;

12 ~ upper substrate;

14～alignment layer;

16, 18 ~ perpendicular section;

C _R , C _G and C _B ~long strip color sub-pixel liquid crystal channel;

L ₁ ~ the first end;

L ₂ ~ the second end.

Part of this case (Figure 2-6C)

S210-S290～process steps of single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display;

310～the first substrate;

320～patterned fence structure;

322～straight sealing end;

324～wall structure;

C ₁ ~the first liquid crystal channel;

C ₂ ~ the second liquid crystal channel;

C ₃ ~ the third liquid crystal channel;

350～second substrate;

36 ~ bonding layer;

420～ fence structure;

410～wall structure;

422～straight sealing end;

440～The entire area of the fenced structure;

510～the first substrate;

520～the first electrode;

530～patterned fence structure;

540～LCD channel;

550～second substrate;

560～second electrode;

570～bonding layer;

490R～first color cholesteric liquid crystal;

490G～Second color cholesteric liquid crystal;

490B～Third color cholesteric liquid crystal;

480a～the first sealing material;

480b～Second sealing material;

480c ~ the third sealing material.

detailed description

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the fabrication of a single-layer color cholesteric liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2 , firstly, a first substrate (eg upper substrate) is manufactured, including providing a first substrate ( S210 ), and forming a first electrode on the first substrate along a first direction ( S212 ). Next, a first alignment layer is formed on the first substrate (S214), and covers the first electrode. Next, form a patterned fence structure on the first substrate (S216), the patterned fence structure includes a plurality of wall-shaped structures, one end of each wall-shaped structure is perpendicular to a straight closed end, so as to be isolated to have a A first liquid crystal channel of the first liquid crystal injection port, a closed second liquid crystal channel and a closed third liquid crystal channel.

Next, the manufacturing step of the second substrate (eg, the lower substrate) is performed, including providing a second substrate ( S220 ), and forming second electrodes on the second substrate along a second direction ( S222 ). Next, a second alignment layer is formed on the second substrate (S224), and covers the second electrode. Then forming an adhesive layer on the second substrate (S226).

Combining the first substrate and the second substrate (S230), the first substrate and the second substrate are arranged facing each other during the combination, and a gap is interposed therebetween. The patterned fence structure is closely combined with the adhesive layer to prevent liquid crystal channels of adjacent sub-pixels from overflowing during subsequent liquid crystal pouring. Next, the cholesteric liquid crystal of the first color is poured and sealed (S240). Performing a first cut to expose the second elongated liquid crystal cavity (S250), and filling and sealing the second color cholesteric liquid crystal (S260). Next, a second cut is performed to expose the third elongated liquid crystal cavity (S270), and the third color cholesteric liquid crystal is perfused and sealed (S280). After completing the steps of filling liquid crystal flow channels of various colors, a subsequent display panel process (S290) is performed.

3A to 3D are schematic diagrams showing various steps before the step of assembling the substrates according to the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3A , a patterned fence structure 320 is formed on the first substrate. The patterned fence structure 320 includes a plurality of wall-like structures 324, one end of each wall-like structure 324 is perpendicular to a straight sealing end 322, and is isolated as a first liquid crystal channel C ₁ with a first liquid crystal injection port, closed A second liquid crystal channel C ₂ and a closed third liquid crystal channel C ₃ . The length of the first liquid crystal channel _C1 is greater than the length of the _second liquid crystal channel C2, and the length of the _second liquid crystal channel C2 is greater than the length of the _third liquid crystal channel C3. The material of the first substrate includes a hard substrate or a flexible soft substrate. For example, flexible flexible substrates include a polycarbonate (PC) substrate, a polyethersulfone resin (PES) substrate, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate or a polyimide ( PI) substrate.

The first substrate includes circuit elements for controlling the pixel electrodes, such as thin film transistors (TFTs) and capacitors. Alternatively, the first substrate further includes a pixel electrode, such as a first electrode along the first direction, and a first alignment layer. The patterned fence structure can be formed by any patterning process, such as photolithography or screen printing, and its material includes a photoresist material.

Please refer to FIG. 3B , and then provide a second substrate 350 whose material includes a rigid substrate or a flexible flexible substrate. A common electrode, such as a second electrode along a second direction, and a second alignment layer may be included on the second substrate 350 . The first electrode and the second electrode are substantially perpendicular to each other. Next, an adhesive layer 360 is formed on the second substrate 350, as shown in FIG. 3C. The material of the adhesive layer 360 includes a gel material or a solid material. For example, the solid material includes a light-curable material or a heat-curable material. The thickness of the adhesive layer 350 is smaller than the height of the patterned fence structure 320 .

Please refer to FIG. 3D , the first substrate 310 and the second substrate 350 are assembled in opposite directions, so that the adhesive layer 360 and the patterned fence structure 320 are closely combined to prevent the liquid crystal channels of adjacent sub-pixels from overflowing during subsequent liquid crystal pouring.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an enclosure structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4 , the patterned fence structure 420 includes a plurality of wall-like structures 410 , and one end of each wall-like structure 410 is perpendicular to a straight closed end 422 . And the patterned fence structure 420 includes a whole area 440, which isolates the patterned fence structure into a first liquid crystal channel C ₁ with a first liquid crystal injection port, a closed second liquid crystal channel C ₂ and a closed second liquid crystal channel C 2 . A third liquid crystal channel C ₃ . The length of the first liquid crystal channel _C1 is greater than the length of the _second liquid crystal channel C2, and the length of the _second liquid crystal channel C2 is greater than the length of the _third liquid crystal channel C3. The entire area 440 can make the bonding between the adhesive layer and the patterned fence structure tighter, and prevent liquid crystal channels of adjacent sub-pixels from overflowing during subsequent liquid crystal pouring.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing substrates bonded along cutting line A-A according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to FIG. 5 , the substrate-bonded structure includes a first substrate 510 and a second substrate 550 disposed opposite to each other, and a plurality of parallel liquid crystal flow channels 540 are interposed therebetween to accommodate cholesteric liquid crystals of various colors. The first substrate 510 has a first electrode 520 along the first direction, such as a pixel electrode. The second substrate 550 has a second electrode 560 along a second direction, such as a common electrode, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. An adhesive layer 570 and a patterned fence structure 530 are disposed between the first substrate 510 and the second substrate 550 to closely bond with each other to prevent adjacent sub-pixel liquid crystal channels from overflowing during subsequent liquid crystal pouring.

6A to 6C are schematic diagrams showing the filling steps of various color liquid crystals according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 6A , the first color (for example, red) cholesteric liquid crystal 490R is poured into the first liquid crystal channel and sealed with the first sealing material 480a. The red cholesteric liquid crystal layer includes a red dye and a twisted nematic liquid crystal containing an optical activator. The first sealing material 480a includes a photo-curable material or a thermal-curable material. Next, a first cutting step (for example, along the cutting line BB) is performed to expose the second elongated liquid crystal channel C ₂ . The first cutting step includes a knife cutting step or a laser cutting step.

Referring to FIG. 6B , the second color (for example, green) cholesteric liquid crystal 490G is poured into the second liquid crystal channel and sealed with the second sealing material 480 b. The green cholesteric liquid crystal layer includes a green dye and a twisted nematic liquid crystal containing an optical activator. The second sealing material 480b includes a photo-curable material or a thermal-curable material. Next, a second cutting step (for example, along the cutting line CC) is performed to expose the third elongated liquid crystal channel C ₃ . The second cutting step includes a knife cutting step or a laser cutting step.

Referring to FIG. 6C , a third color (eg, blue) cholesteric liquid crystal 490B is poured into the third liquid crystal channel and sealed with a third sealing material 480c. The blue cholesteric liquid crystal layer includes a blue dye and a twisted nematic liquid crystal containing an optical activator. The third sealing material 480c includes a photo-curable material or a thermal-curable material. After completing the steps of filling liquid crystal flow channels of various colors, the subsequent display panel process is carried out.

It should be noted that each color cholesteric liquid crystal layer described in the embodiment of the present invention may include a polymer dispersed liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal containing polymer monomer is poured into the liquid crystal channel, and after being irradiated with ultraviolet light and photopolymerized, a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC for short) is formed. The step of sealing the liquid crystal channel with sealing material can be omitted by adopting the polymer dispersed liquid crystal. For example, after the step of assembling the substrates facing each other, pouring a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal of the first color into the first liquid crystal channel sequentially from the first liquid crystal injection port. Next, a first cutting step is performed to expose the first liquid crystal channel to the second liquid crystal injection port. Pouring a second-color polymer-dispersed liquid crystal into the second liquid crystal channel from the first liquid crystal injection port, and applying a second cutting step to expose the third liquid crystal channel to a third liquid crystal injection port. Next, pour a third color polymer dispersed liquid crystal into the third liquid crystal channel from the first liquid crystal injection port. After completing the steps of filling liquid crystal flow channels of various colors, the subsequent display panel process is carried out.

The embodiment of the present invention provides a structure and manufacturing method of a color liquid crystal display. Its feature and advantage are to design liquid crystal injection channels and electrodes of different lengths, and then apply a layer of adhesive material on another substrate with electrodes, and perform alignment. set up. The adhesive layer and the patterned fence structure are closely combined with each other, preventing liquid crystal channels of adjacent sub-pixels from overflowing during subsequent liquid crystal pouring. Then, through the cutting process, red, green, and blue liquid crystals can be injected respectively to achieve the production of a single-layer colored liquid crystal display. This method can effectively reduce the process and greatly reduce the cost.

Although the present invention is disclosed above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field may make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Modification, therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A patterned fence structure with multiple color cholesteric liquid crystal channels, comprising: Multiple wall-like structures; a straight closed end at one end of each of said wall structures and perpendicular to each of said wall structures; and A whole area, located at the other end of each of the above-mentioned wall-like structures; wherein the patterned fence structure is isolated into a first liquid crystal channel with a first liquid crystal injection port, a closed second liquid crystal channel and a closed first liquid crystal channel Three liquid crystal channels, wherein the length of the first liquid crystal channel is greater than the length of the second liquid crystal channel, and the length of the second liquid crystal channel is greater than the length of the third liquid crystal channel, wherein the material of the patterned fence structure includes photoresist Material, wherein the above-mentioned wall structures, the above-mentioned straight sealing end and the above-mentioned whole area are integrally formed. 2. The patterned fence structure with multiple color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first substrate, which is arranged opposite to a second substrate, with a gap therebetween, wherein the patterned The fence structure is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. 3. The patterned fence structure with multiple color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first substrate has a first electrode along the first direction, and the second substrate has a second electrode along the second direction. The second electrode in the direction, and the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other. 4. The patterned fence structure with multiple color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a first alignment layer disposed on the first substrate, and a second alignment layer disposed on the second substrate layer. 5. The patterned fence structure with multi-color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first liquid crystal channel is a red sub-pixel, the second liquid crystal channel is a green sub-pixel and the third liquid crystal channel is the blue subpixel. 6 . The patterned fence structure with multi-color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the materials of the first substrate and the second substrate include a hard substrate or a flexible flexible substrate. 7. The patterned fence structure with multiple-color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flexible flexible substrate comprises a polycarbonate substrate, a polyethersulfone resin substrate, polyparaphenylene Ethylene diformate substrate or polyimide substrate. 8. A method for fabricating a patterned fence structure with channels for cholesteric liquid crystals of various colors, comprising: providing a first substrate; forming a patterned fence structure on the first substrate, the patterned fence structure is formed by a patterning process, and its material includes a photoresist material; Wherein the patterned fence structure includes a plurality of wall-like structures, a straight closed end perpendicular to one end of each wall-like structure, and a whole area located at the other end of the wall-like structures, so as to be isolated to have a first An open first liquid crystal channel, a closed second liquid crystal channel, and a closed third liquid crystal channel, wherein the length of the first liquid crystal channel is greater than the length of the second liquid crystal channel, and the length of the second liquid crystal channel is greater than the length of the third liquid crystal channel The length of the liquid crystal channel, wherein the above-mentioned wall structures, the above-mentioned straight sealing end and the above-mentioned whole area are integrally formed. 9 . The method for manufacturing a patterned fence structure having multiple colors of cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the patterned fence structure is formed by photolithography or screen printing. 10. The method for manufacturing a patterned fence structure having multiple color cholesteric liquid crystal channels as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first liquid crystal channel is a red sub-pixel, the second liquid crystal channel is a green sub-pixel and the The third liquid crystal channel is a blue sub-pixel.