Liquid-crystal display device comprising a depression formed on inner surface of a substrate for receiving excess liquid crystal

1. A LCD device comprising:

a first substrate on which pixels are arranged;

a second substrate coupled to the first substrate with a sealing member in such a way as to form a gap between the first and second substrates;

a liquid-crystal layer formed in the gap, the liquid crystal layer being confined by the sealing member; and

spacers arranged in the liquid-crystal layer;

wherein the first substrate has a display region for displaying images, the display region being defined to include the pixels;

wherein the first substrate has a non-display region formed outside the display region, the non-display region being located between the display region and the sealing member;

wherein the spacers are located in a first part of the liquid-crystal layer corresponding to the display region while none of the spacers are located in a second part of the liquid-crystal layer corresponding to the non-display region; and

further comprising a depression formed on an inner surface of the first or second substrate;

wherein the depression is located in the second part of the liquid-crystal layer, and the depression constitutes a buffer space which receives extra liquid crystal from the liquid crystal layer; and

wherein the depression is substantially vacant except for the extra liquid crystal.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein TFTs are arranged on the first substrate in such a way as to be electrically connected to the respective pixels, and a dielectric layer is formed on the first substrate to cover the TFTs and the pixels;

and wherein the depression is formed in the dielectric layer.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein a dielectric layer is formed on the second substrate;

and wherein the depression is formed in the dielectric layer.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second substrates comprises a transparent plate and the depression is formed on an inner surface of the plate.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein when the non-display region has a width L(μm) and the gap in the display region has an average value d(μm), the depression has a height H satisfying a relationship of

H ≧(½)×(1000 +L )×[0.02 d+[L ×(0.02 d/ 1000)]]/ L (μm).

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the spacers are pole-shaped and formed on one of the first and second substrates.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the depression forms a step between the display region and the non-display region.

8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric overcoat layer on at least a portion of the second substrate;

wherein at least a portion of the dielectric overcoat layer in the second part of the liquid-crystal layer is selectively etched to remove portions of the dielectric overcoat layer and form the depression.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of discrete spacers.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of discrete spacers arranged in a matrix with a plurality of rows and columns.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the spacers are pole-shaped.