LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING IMPROVED ALIGNMENT OF LIQUID CRYSTALS
A liquid crystal display device provides for improved alignment of its liquid crystal molecules by having an alignment layer with polymer branches that are cured so as to reinforce a predefined orientation of the liquid crystal molecules even when no voltages are applied to the pixel-electrodes and/or common electrode of the device. Bruising of the screen can thus be rapidly repaired. In one embodiment, the device includes: first and second substrates opposed to each other; a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules interposed between the substrates; a gate line formed on the first substrate; first and second data lines formed on the first substrate and connected for transmitting first and second data voltages having different polarities; a first and second switching elements respectively connected to the gate line and the first or second data line; first and second pixel electrodes that are connected to the first and second switching elements, respectively; an alignment layer formed on the first and second pixel electrodes; and a polymer layer including a plurality of cured prepolymers that are cured so as to prearrange the liquid crystal molecules in a desired orientation.
1 . A liquid crystal display device, comprising:
first and second substrates opposed to each other;
a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules interposed between the first and second substrates;
a gate line formed on the first substrate and transmitting a gate signal;
first and second data lines formed on the first substrate and respectively transmitting first and second data voltages having different levels;
a first switching element connected to the gate line and the first data line;
a second switching element connected to the gate line and the second data line;
first and second pixel electrodes that are connected to the first and second switching elements, respectively, and separated from each other; and
an alignment layer formed on the first and second pixel electrodes,
wherein the liquid crystal layer including a plurality of polymers pretilting the liquid crystal molecules near the alignment layer by interacting with the alignment layer, and
wherein the first and second pixel electrodes include a plurality of branch electrodes, and
the branch electrodes of the first pixel electrode and the branch electrodes of the second pixel electrode are alternately disposed.
2 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules are substantially vertically aligned to horizontal surfaces of the first and second substrates.
3 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 2 , wherein distances between adjacent branch electrodes of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are uniform with respect to their position.
4 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 2 , wherein polarities of the first and the second data voltages are opposite to each other.
5 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , wherein the branch electrodes of the first and second pixel electrodes are obliquely inclined with respect to the gate line.
6 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 5 , wherein the first and second pixel electrodes are formed in a same layer.
7 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 6 , wherein further comprising a common electrode that is formed on the second substrate and applied with a common voltage.
8 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , wherein distances between adjacent branch electrodes of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are uniform with respect to their position.
9 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 8 , wherein the branch electrodes of the first and second pixel electrodes are obliquely inclined with respect to the gate line.
10 . A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising:
preparing first and second substrates opposed to each other;
forming a liquid crystal layer by interposing liquid crystal molecules containing a plurality of prepolymers between the first and second substrates;
forming a gate line on the first substrate and transmitting a gate signal;
forming first and second data lines on the first substrate and respectively transmitting first and second data voltages having different levels;
forming a first switching element connected to the gate line and the first data line;
forming a second switching element connected to the gate line and the second data line;
forming first and second pixel electrodes that are connected to the first and second switching elements, respectively, and separated from each other;
forming an alignment layer on the first and second pixel electrodes; and
forming a plurality of polymers pretilting the liquid crystal molecules near the alignment layer by interacting with the alignment layer,
wherein the first and second pixel electrodes include a plurality of branch electrodes, and
the branch electrodes of the first pixel electrode and the branch electrodes of the second pixel electrode are alternately disposed.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the liquid crystal molecules are substantially vertically aligned to horizontal surfaces of the first and second substrates.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the polymers are formed by irradiating light on the liquid crystal layer containing a plurality of the prepolymers cured by polymerization.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein energy levels of the light disposed on the liquid crystal layer are between about 3 joules (“J”) to about 20 J per unit area.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein distances between adjacent branch electrodes of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are uniform with respect to their position.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein polarities of the first and the second data voltages are opposite to each other.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the branch electrodes of the first and second pixel electrodes are obliquely inclined with respect to the gate line.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second pixel electrodes are formed in a same layer.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein further comprising forming a common electrode that is formed on the second substrate and applied with a common voltage.
19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the prepolymers are contained in the liquid crystal layer in an amount between about 0.01 weight percent (wt %) to about 3 weight percent (wt %) based on the liquid crystal molecules.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the prepolymers are contained in the liquid crystal layer in an amount specifically between about 0.01 weight percent (wt %) to about 0.5 weight percent (wt %) based on the liquid crystal molecules.