Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof
View Patent ↗The present invention prevents the shaving of an alignment film caused by a columnar spacer in a liquid crystal display device of an IPS method using photo-alignment. A plinth higher than a pixel electrode is formed at a part where a columnar spacer formed over a counter substrate touches a TFT substrate. When an alignment film of a double-layered structure is applied over the pixel electrode and the plinth, the thickness of the alignment film over the plinth reduces by a leveling effect. When photo-alignment is applied in the state, a photodegraded upper alignment film over the plinth disappears and a lower alignment film having a high mechanical strength remains. As a result, it is possible to prevent the shaving of the alignment film.
1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:
a TFT substrate and a counter substrate;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the TFT substrate having a pixel electrode and the counter substrate having an overcoat film;
a spacer formed on the overcoat film and contacting with the TFT substrate; and
an alignment film of the counter substrate formed on the spacer and the overcoat film,
wherein an end face of the spacer has a portion;
wherein the overcoat film has a portion facing the pixel electrode;
wherein a thickness of the alignment film on the portion of the end face of the spacer is thinner compared to a thickness of the alignment film on the portion of the overcoat film facing the pixel electrode,
a distance from the counter substrate to the portion of the end face of the spacer is greater than a distance from the counter substrate to a surface of the portion of the overcoat film facing the pixel electrode,
wherein the alignment film comprises a first part subjected to photo-alignment treatment formed by a first precursor,
wherein the alignment film comprises a second part formed by a second precursor, and
wherein the first part is disposed between the second part and the liquid crystal layer,
when the thickness of the second part is defined as p 1 and the thickness of the first part is defined as p 2 , p 2 /p 1 over the portion of the end face of the spacer is smaller than p 2 /p 1 over the portion of the overcoat film facing the pixel electrode.
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the TFT substrate having a plurality of signal lines,
wherein the spacer opposes to one of the plurality of signal lines.
3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1 , wherein the second precursor doesn't have photo-alignment treatment.