IP Library Granted Patent US 7,812,917
Granted Patent B2
US 7,812,917 · App. 12/031,774 · Granted Oct 12, 2010

Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,812,917
App. No.
12/031,774
Granted
Oct 12, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Bead spacers, which are disposed on at least one principal surface of a pair of substrates forming a liquid crystal display device, are bonded to the principal surface by an alignment film or an organic material film. Specifically, the bead spacers disposed on the principal surface are covered with the alignment film, or the bead spacers are bonded by the organic material film to the alignment film formed on the principal surface of the substrate.

Claims (26)

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a pair of substrates, which are bonded so that principal surfaces thereof are opposed to each other across an intervening gap;

a plurality of bead spacers, which are prepared separately from each of the pair of substrates and disposed between the principal surfaces of the pair of substrates; and

a liquid crystal layer in which the gap is filled with liquid crystal molecules; wherein

one of the pair of substrates includes a display screen of the liquid crystal display device on a side opposite the principal surface of the one of the pair of substrates, and the display screen includes a plurality of pixels, arranged two-dimensionally, in each of which light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is controlled;

the plurality of bead spacers are disposed in a region of at least one of the principal surfaces of the pair of substrates, the region being opposed to a non-display portion arranged between the plurality of pixels of the display screen;

an alignment film which aligns the liquid crystal molecules, and an organic film which is different in composition from the alignment film and is covered with the alignment film in the region are formed on the at least one of the principal surfaces of the pair of substrates; and

the plurality of bead spacers is adhered to each of the alignment film and the organic film and held in the region; and wherein:

the alignment film and the organic film are formed of the same resin film; and

the alignment film and the organic film are different from each other in at least one of: an organic substance, which is contained in the resin film and is different from the resin film, and a content ratio of the organic substance.

2. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the organic film includes one of an organic substance having a higher surface tension than an organic substance contained in the alignment film, and organic molecules derived from the organic substance.

3. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the alignment film further includes a first organic substance and a second organic substance which are different from the resin film which forms the alignment film;

the first organic substance comprises one of a first organic solvent and organic molecules derived from the first organic solvent;

the second organic substance comprises one of a second organic solvent having a higher surface tension than the first organic solvent, and organic molecules derived from the second organic solvent; and

the organic film includes a first organic substance and a second organic substance and a ratio of the second organic substance to the first organic substance in the organic film is higher than a ratio of the second organic substance to the first organic substance in the alignment film.

4. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 3 , wherein the alignment film is formed by curing a precursor solution which contains the first organic solvent and the second organic solvent.

5. A liquid crystal display device, comprising:

a pair of substrates which are bonded so that principal surfaces thereof are opposed to each other across an intervening gap;

a plurality of bead spacers which are prepared separately from each of the pair of substrates and disposed between the principal surfaces of the pair of substrates; and

a liquid crystal layer in which the gap is filled with liquid crystal molecules; wherein

one of the pair of substrates includes a display screen of the liquid crystal display device, on a side opposite the principal surface of the one of the pair of substrates, and the display screen includes a plurality of pixels, arranged two-dimensionally, in each of which light transmittance of the liquid crystal layer is controlled;

an alignment film which aligns the liquid crystal molecules is formed on at least one of the principal surfaces of the pair of substrates; and

the plurality of bead spacers is disposed in a region which is located on the alignment film and opposed to a non-display portion provided between the plurality of pixels of the display screen, is adhered to an organic film which is different in composition from the alignment film and is adhered to the alignment film in the region, and held in the region; and wherein:

the alignment film and the organic film are formed of the same resin film; and

the alignment film and the organic film are different from each other in at least one of: an organic substance, which is contained in the resin film and is different from the resin film, and a content ratio of the organic substance.

Assignments (3)
COMPANY SPLIT PLAN TRANSFERRING FIFTY (50) PERCENT SHARE OF PATENTS Recorded Oct 14, 2011
From: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD.
To: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027063/0019 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 14, 2011
From: IPS ALPHA SUPPORT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027063/0139 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2008
From: KAWABE, SHINICHI; HONOKI, HIDEYUKI; TANAKA, YUICHIRO
To: HITACHI DISPLAYS, LTD
Reel/Frame 020872/0743 →