LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICES

1 . A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate having a display area and a non-display area;

a first electrode on the first substrate at the display area;

a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;

a second electrode on the second substrate at the display area;

a liquid crystal layer between the first electrode and the second electrode;

a spacer between the first substrate and the second substrate at the non-display area;

a sealant adjacent to the spacer; and

a blocking structure beneath the spacer.

2 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a protection layer on the first substrate; and

an insulation layer on the protection layer.

3 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 2 , wherein the blocking structure comprises a recess formed on the insulation layer and a blocking member located in the recess.

4 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , wherein the blocking member is located on a bottom face of the recess, a sidewall of the recess and the insulation layer.

5 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , wherein the spacer is partially buried in the recess.

6 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , wherein the blocking member comprises a material that is substantially the same as that of the first electrode or the second electrode.

7 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , wherein the blocking member is electrically coupled to the first electrode.

8 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 7 , wherein the blocking member is configured to generate an electric field around the spacer when a voltage is applied to the blocking member.

9 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 3 , further comprising a compensation member located on the spacer.

10 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 2 , wherein the spacer comprises a first spacer and a second spacer that are located between the first substrate and the second substrate at the non-display area,

wherein the sealant is located between the first spacer and the second spacer.

11 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 10 , wherein the blocking structure comprises:

a first recess on the insulation layer under the first spacer;

a first blocking member located in the first recess;

a second recess on the insulation layer under the second spacer; and

a second blocking member located in the second recess.

12 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 11 , wherein each of the first blocking member and the second blocking member is electrically coupled to the first electrode.

13 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 11 , wherein the first spacer and the second spacer are partially buried in the first recess and the second recess, respectively.

14 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 11 , further comprising a first compensation member located on the first spacer and a second compensation member located on the second spacer.

15 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an insulation layer located on the first substrate; and

a protection layer located on the insulation layer.

16 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 15 , wherein the blocking structure includes:

a recess penetrating the protection layer to partially expose the insulation layer; and

a blocking member located on the insulation layer, a sidewall of the recess and the protection layer.

17 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 15 , wherein the blocking structure comprises:

a first recess and a second recess formed through the protection layer to partially expose the insulation layer;

a first blocking member located in the first recess; and

a second blocking member located in the second recess.

18 . The liquid crystal display device of claim 17 , wherein the spacer comprises a first spacer partially buried in the first recess and a second spacer partially buried in the second recess,

wherein the sealant is located between the first spacer and the second spacer.

19 . A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, the method comprising:

forming a switching device at a display area of a first substrate;

forming a blocking structure at a non-display area of the first substrate;

forming a first electrode on the first substrate at the display area;

forming a second electrode on a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;

forming a liquid crystal layer between the first electrode and the second electrode;

forming a spacer between the first substrate and the second substrate at the non-display area; and

forming a sealant adjacent to the spacer.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein forming the blocking structure comprises:

forming an insulation layer on the first substrate;

forming a recess on the insulation layer at the non-display area; and

forming a blocking member in recess.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising forming a protection layer on the first substrate to cover the switching device before forming the insulation layer.

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein forming the recess further comprises forming a contact hole through the insulation layer at the display area to partially expose the switching device.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein forming the recess is performed using a mask having a blocking region, a transparent region and a transflective region.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein forming the blocking member further comprises:

forming a conductive layer on a bottom face and a sidewall of the recess, on a bottom face and a sidewall of the contact hole and on the insulation layer; and

forming the blocking member and the first electrode by patterning the conductive layer.

25 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising forming a compensation member corresponding to the spacer on the second substrate before forming the second electrode.