Liquid Crystal Display Device Having Transparent Conductive Layer

This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 1996-41779, filed on Aug. 23, 1996, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display device having a good image quality and yield.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Recently, thin film transistor liquid crystal display devices (TFT LCD) have been used as display devices for portable televisions and notebook computers, etc. However, the conventional TFT LCDs have angular dependence problems.

In order to overcome this angular dependence problem, a twisted nematic LCD having an optical compensation plate and a multi-domain LCD has been introduced. However, since the contrast ratio in these LCDs is dependent upon the viewing angle, the color of the image is shifted.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional liquid crystal display device. As shown in FIG. 1, a pixel is defined by a gate bus line 3 and a data bus line 4. Although only one pixel is drawn in FIG. 1, the real liquid crystal display device has a plurality of pixels. At the intersection point between the gate bus line 3 and the data bus line 4, a thin film transistor (TFT) is located with a gate electrode 5 connected to the gate bus line 3 and source/drain electrodes 6 connected to the data bus line 4.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I' of FIG. 1. The LCD includes a TFT array substrate 1 and a color filter substrate 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the data bus line 4 and a transparent pixel electrode 7 are formed on an insulating layer 11 deposited over the TFT array substrate 1, with a passivation layer 13 and a first alignment layer 14a formed thereon. On the color filter substrate 2, a color filter layer 10, and a black matrix 8 for preventing the light leakage through the TFT, the gate bus line 3, and the data bus line 4, are formed. A transparent counter electrode 17 is also formed over the color filter substrate 2, and a passivation layer 12 is deposited thereon. A second alignment layer 14b is coated on the passivation layer 12.

When a voltage is not applied to the pixel and the counter electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 7, the liquid crystal molecules in a liquid crystal layer 19 sandwiched between the TFT array substrate 1 and the color filter substrate 2 are arranged along the alignment direction of the first and second alignment layers 14a and 14b. By applying a voltage, an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 7 and the counter electrode 17 so that the liquid crystal molecules are arranged perpendicular to the surface of the substrates 1 and 2. Thus, the angular dependence problem is generated because of the refractive anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules, and the color is shifted.

To obtain a wide viewing angle, in-plane switching LCDs are disclosed in JAPAN DISPLAY 92 (P547), Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 7-36058, Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 7-225538, and ASIA DISPLAY 95 (P707).

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a conventional in-plane switching liquid crystal display device. First and second alignment layers 14a and 14b are rubbed in a slightly oblique direction relative to the extension direction of the data bus line 4 to align the liquid crystal molecules in a certain direction. A polarizer (not shown in the drawing) having a polarization axis parallel to the extension direction of the gate bus line 3 is attached to the TFT array substrate 1 and an analyzer having a polarization axis parallel to the rubbing direction is attached to the color filter substrate 2. In the pixel, at least one data electrode 21 and one common electrode 22 are extended in the perpendicular direction to the extension direction of the gate bus line 3. When the voltage is not applied to the data electrode 21 and the common electrode 22, the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 19 are aligned in the slightly oblique direction relative to the extension direction of the electrodes 21 and 22 along the rubbing direction. When the voltage is applied, an electric field parallel to the extension direction of the gate bus line 3 is generated in the liquid crystal layer 19 to switch the liquid crystal molecules in the plane level of the surfaces of the substrates 1 and 2. Accordingly, the viewing angle characteristics and the contrast ratio are improved because of the in-plane switching of the liquid crystal molecules.

However, there are several problems in the conventional in-plane switching liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal molecules are easily polarized by an outer induced electric field. Especially, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are mainly polarized by the outer induced electric field through the color filter substrate during an user's application. The most general outer induced electric field is a field caused by a human hand approaching the screen. The electrostatic charges associated with the human hand cause the polarization of the liquid crystal molecules. As a result, a spot is generated on the screen.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a liquid crystal display device that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having a transparent conductive metal layer formed in the TFT array substrate and/or the color filter substrate to prevent the polarization of the liquid crystal molecules caused by an outer induced electric field.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a thin film transistor array substrate, a color filter substrate, a shielding layer formed in the at least one substrate of the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter substrate for shielding the outer induced electric field, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter substrate.

The shielding layer includes the transparent conductive metal layer to prevent the polarization of the liquid crystal molecules caused by the outer induced electric field.

The thin film transistor substrate includes a first substrate, a plurality of gate bus lines and data bus lines defining a plurality of pixel region over the first substrate, a plurality of thin film transistor at the cross of the gate bus lines and the data bus lines, at least one pair of electrodes including a data electrode and a common electrode perpendicular to the gate bus lines in the pixel region, a passivation layer over the first substrate, and a first alignment layer on the passivation layer. The color filter substrate includes a second substrate, a black matrix on the second substrate, a color filter layer on the second substrate and the black matrix, the passivation layer over the second layer, and a second alignment layer on the passivation layer.

The transparent conductive metal layer is formed at the inner surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer or the outer surface. Further, the transparent conductive metal layer can be formed at the inner surface of the second substrate, the outer surface, or on the shielding layer. In addition, the transparent conductive metal layer can be formed in both substrates.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conventional liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken long the line I-I' of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional in-plane switching liquid crystal display device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II' of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a an view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and ,

FIG. 11 is a ional view of the in-plane switching liquid crystal display device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

One feature of the present invention is the transparent conductive metal layer formed at the TFT array substrate and/or the color filter substrate. FIGS. 6-11 are views taken along the line III-III' of FIG. 5 indicating the elements similar to those in the conventional in-plane switching liquid crystal display device, as well as the new elements of the present invention such as the transparent conductive metal layer.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention. As show in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of gate bus lines 103 and data bus lines 104 are formed on the first substrate 101 (TFT array substrate). At the cross points of the gate bus lines 103 and the data bus lines 104, a plurality of thin film transistor are arranged. A common bus line 120 parallel to the gate bus line 103 is formed in the pixel region. Also in the pixel region, at least one common electrode 122 connecting to source/drain electrodes 106 of the TFT is extended in the parallel direction of the extension direction of the data bus line 104, and an insulating layer 111 is deposited thereon. A common electrode 122 is formed by etching a sputtered metal layer such as Cr, Mo, Al, and Al alloy. The insulating layer 111 such as SiOx and SiNx is deposited by a plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.

On the insulating layer 111, the data bus line 104 and the data electrode 121 are formed by etching the sputtered metal layer such as Cr, Mo, Al, and Al alloy. The insulating layer 111, the data bus line 104, and the data electrode 121 are covered with a passivation layer 113 such as SiOx and SiNx by the plasma CVD process, and an alignment material including polyimide is coated thereon to form a first alignment layer 114a.

The polyimide layer must be rubbed by the rubbing cloth to form the alignment direction. The resultant electrostatic discharge and the dust may cause damages to the substrates. In order to overcome such damages, the photo-alignment materials such as polysiloxane-based materials or polyvinylfluorocinnamate (PVCN-F) can be used as the alignment materials.

A transparent conductive metal layer 125 such as indium tin oxide is formed on the second substrate 102 (color filter substrate) by a sputtering process and a black matrix 108 is formed thereon. The black matrix 108 is formed by etching Cr layer or CrOx layer to prevent the leakage of the light through the data bus line 104, the gate bus line 103, the common bus line 120, and the TFT. A color filter layer 110 is formed on the black matrix 108 and the transparent conductive metal layer 125. A passivation layer 112 including SiOx and SiNx is deposited on the color filter layer 110 by the plasma CVD process and a second alignment layer 114b including the polyimide, polysiloxane based materials, and the PVCN-F, is coated thereon.

Between the first and second substrates 101 and 102, spacers (not shown in the drawing) are scattered to assure an uniform interval between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal layer 119 is sandwiched between the first and second substrates 101 and 102.

In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a pair of electrodes 121 and 122 apply and electric field to the liquid crystal layer 119 to switch the liquid crystal molecules in the plane level of the surface of the substrate 101.

The transparent conductive metal layer 125 shields the outer induced electric field caused by electrostatic discharge. That is, when a human hand approaches the screen, charges are induced in the transparent conductive metal layer 125 because of the electrostatic discharge of the hand. This induced discharge flows out the liquid crystal panel through the transparent conductive metal layer 125, so that the device is shielded from the outer induced electric field.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the structure is the same as that of the first embodiment except the position of the transparent conductive metal layer 125. Over the first substrate 101, as shown in FIG. 7, the data and the gate bus lines 103 and 104, the TFT, the data and common electrodes 121 and 122, and the first alignment layer 114a are formed. Over the second substrate 102, the black matrix 108, the transparent conductive metal layer the color filter layer 110, and the second alignment layer 114a are formed. The black matrix 108 is directly on the second substrate 102 and the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed on the black matrix 108 and the second substrate 102. In this embodiment, the transparent conductive metal layer 125 similarly shields the outer induced electric field.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed on the color filter layer 110 of the second substrate 102.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed out of the second substrate 102. The same effect as that of the first and second embodiments is obtained. Since the transparent conductive metal layer 125 can be formed after assembling the first and second substrates, the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Practically, the image-presenting substrate is the second substrate 102, i.e., the color filter substrate. Thus, the liquid crystal molecules are mainly polarized by the outer induced electric field through the color filter substrate. During the liquid crystal manufacturing process, however, other processes are needed after sealing the liquid crystal panel. These other processes generate an outer induced electric field and this induced field polarizes the liquid crystal molecules through the first substrate 101, i.e., the TFT array substrate. To overcome this problem, a transparent conductive metal layer 125 located near the TFT array substrate is needed.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views indicating the fifth and sixth embodiments of the present invention. In these embodiments, the transparent conductive metal layer 125 are formed near the TFT array substrate. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed either at the inner surface or at the outer surface of the first substrate 101 to shield the outer induced electric field. When the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed in the inner surface of the first substrate 101, as shown in FIG. 11, the insulating layer 135 must be formed between the transparent conductive metal layer 125 and the common electrode 122 to prevent the short circuit therebetween.

Although for the illustration purpose, the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed only in the TFT array substrate or the color filter substrate in the above embodiments, it is preferred to form the transparent conductive metal layer 125 in both substrates.

When the transparent conductive metal layer 125 is formed in both substrates, the positioning of the first through the fourth embodiments and that of the fifth and sixth embodiments are combined. That is, the transparent conductive metal layer 125 may be formed in the outer surface of the first and second substrates 101 and 102, in the inner surface of the first and second substrates 101 and 102, in the outer surface of the first substrate 101 and on the black matrix 108 of the second substrate 102, in the outer surface of the first substrate 101 and on the color filter layer 110 of the second substrate 102, in the inner surface of the first substrate 101 and outer surface of the second substrate 102, in the inner surface of the first substrate 101 and on the color filter layer 110 of the second substrate 102, and other possible combinations.

As described above, since the present liquid crystal display device includes the transparent conductive metal layer for shielding the outer induced electric field, spots are not generated on the screen. As a result, the liquid crystal display device has a better image quality.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the liquid crystal display device of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.