LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE, MANUFACTURING METHOD OF LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE, DISPLAY DEVICE AND INFORMATION INPUT APPARATUS

• US 20100194709A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Display West Incorporated (Japan Display Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Imai, Masato, Koito, Takeo, Tamaki, Masaya
• Granted Patent: US 8,624,867 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1337 Surface-induced orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, e.g. by alignment layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13394 spacers regularly patterned on the cell subtrate, e.g. walls, pillars G02F1/133377 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134372 for fringe field switching [FFS] where the common electrode is not patterned
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/40 Arrangements for improving the aperture ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/047 using sets of wires, e.g. crossed wires

Abstract

A display device includes: a display panel including first and second substrates spaced from and opposite to each other, and has a touch sensor switch. The touch sensor switch includes a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and a second touch electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and spaced from and faces the first touch electrode. The first and second touch electrodes contact with each other when the touch panel is deformed by an external pressure. The first touch electrode covers a surface of a concave and convex area where grooves are formed to be spaced from each other, and on the surface on which the first touch electrode is provided, an application film is provided to expose a surface of a top face of a convex part of the concave and convex area.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel which includes

a first substrate,

a second substrate opposite to and spaced from the first substrate, and

a liquid crystal layer provided in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and

has a built-in touch sensor switch in a display area to display an image, wherein

the touch sensor switch includes

a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

a second touch electrode which is provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and is spaced from and faces the first touch electrode,

the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode contact with each other when the liquid crystal panel is deformed by an external pressure,

liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer are oriented by a first liquid crystal orientation film provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and a second liquid crystal orientation film provided on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate,

the first touch electrode is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and covers a surface of a concave and convex area where a plurality of grooves are formed to be spaced from each other, and

an orientation material is applied onto the surface on which the first touch electrode is provided and the first liquid crystal orientation film is provided while a surface of a top face of a convex part of the concave and convex area is exposed in the first touch electrode.

2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the second touch electrode is provided on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and covers at least a top face of an elastic member protruding convexly.

3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal panel includes a column spacer provided in the space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and

a height of the elastic member provided on the second substrate is lower than the column spacer.

4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 3, wherein the concave and convex area is provided on a top face of an elastic member which is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and protrudes convexly.

5. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal panel includes a column spacer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate,

and a height of the elastic member is equal to the column spacer.

6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein in a state where the first touch electrode is covered on the concave and convex area, a width of the convex part is 0.5 to 5.0 μ

m, a width of a concave part is 0.5 to 5.0 μ

m, and a distance between the top face of the convex part and a bottom face of the concave part is 0.5 to 2.0 μ

m.

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

forming a liquid crystal panel which includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposite to and spaced from the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein

the liquid crystal panel forming step includes the steps of

forming a touch sensor switch in a display area to display an image in the liquid crystal panel;

forming a first liquid crystal orientation film on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate; and

forming a second liquid crystal orientation film on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate,

the touch sensor switch forming step includes the steps of

forming a first touch electrode on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

forming a second touch electrode, which is spaced from and faces the first touch electrode, on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate,

in the first touch electrode forming step, the first touch electrode is formed on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and covers a surface of a concave and convex area where a plurality of grooves are formed to be spaced from each other, and

in the first liquid crystal orientation film forming step, the first liquid crystal orientation film is formed to expose a surface of a top face of a convex part of the concave and convex area in the first touch electrode by applying an orientation material onto the surface on which the first touch electrode is formed.

8. A display device comprising:

a display panel which includes

a first substrate, and

a second substrate spaced from and opposite to the first substrate and,

has a touch sensor switch, wherein

the touch sensor switch includes

a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

a second touch electrode which is provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and is spaced from and faces the first touch electrode,

the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode contact with each other when the touch panel is deformed by an external pressure, and

the first touch electrode is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and covers a surface of a concave and convex area where a plurality of grooves are formed to be spaced from each other, and on the surface on which the first touch electrode is provided, an application film is provided to expose a surface of a top face of a convex part of the concave and convex area in the first touch electrode.

9. An information input device comprising:

a touch panel including

a first substrate, and

a second substrate spaced from and opposite to the first substrate and,

has a touch sensor switch, wherein

the touch sensor switch includes

a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

a second touch electrode which is provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and is spaced from and faces the first touch electrode,

the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode contact with each other when the touch panel is deformed by an external pressure, and

the first touch electrode is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and covers a surface of a concave and convex area where a plurality of grooves are formed to be spaced from each other, and on the surface on which the first touch electrode is provided, an application film is provided to expose a surface of a top face of a convex part of the concave and convex area in the first touch electrode.

10. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a liquid crystal panel which includes

a first substrate,

a second substrate arranged to be opposite and spaced from the first substrate,

a liquid crystal layer provided in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate, and

a built-in touch sensor switch in a display area to display an image,

wherein the touch sensor switch includes

a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

a second touch electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate to face and be spaced from the first touch electrode,

the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode come into contact with each other when the liquid crystal panel is deformed by an external pressure,

liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer are oriented by a first liquid crystal orientation film provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and a second liquid crystal orientation film provided on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate,

an under layer having a concave groove is provided between the first touch electrode and the first substrate, and

when an application liquid containing an orientation material is applied onto the surface on which the first touch electrode is formed, the application liquid enters the concave groove, and the first liquid crystal orientation film is formed such that a top face of the first touch electrode is exposed while not being covered therewith.

11. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 10,

wherein the liquid crystal panel is configured such that the second touch electrode comes into contact with a pair of first touch electrodes to electrically connect the pair of first touch electrodes when the liquid crystal panel is deformed by the external pressure, and

when the application liquid containing the orientation material is applied onto the surface on which the first touch electrodes are formed, the application liquid enters the concave groove, and the first liquid crystal orientation film is formed such that top faces of the pair of first touch electrodes are exposed.

12. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the under layer is provided such that the groove is located between the pair of first touch electrodes, and

the pair of first touch electrodes are formed such that the surfaces thereof around the groove so as to be exposed while being not covered with the first liquid crystal orientation film.

13. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 12,

wherein the second touch electrode is formed such that a width thereof on the surface of the first substrate in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of the pair of first touch electrodes includes a portion larger than the pair of first touch electrodes.

14. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 12,

wherein the first substrate has a conductive layer which is provided on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate and is connected to the first touch electrode, and

the touch sensor switch is provided such that, at a contact part of the first substrate where the first touch electrode and the conductive layer are connected to each other, the pair of first touch electrodes and the second touch electrode come into contact with each other.

15. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 11,

wherein the under layer is provided such that the groove extends in an arrangement direction of a pair of second touch electrodes, and

the pair of second touch electrodes are formed such that the surfaces thereof around the groove are exposed while being not covered with the first liquid crystal orientation film.

16. The liquid crystal display device according to any one of claims 10 to 15,

wherein the second substrate includes a convex part which protrudes convexly in a direction toward the first substrate on the surface thereof facing the first substrate,

a flat area of the convex part along the surface of the first substrate is provided at the top face facing the first substrate, and

the second touch electrode is formed as an independent pattern on the flat area while being not formed in an area on the concave part other than the flat area.

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

forming a liquid crystal panel having a first substrate, a second substrate arranged to be opposite and spaced from the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer provided in a space between the first substrate and the second substrate,

wherein

the liquid crystal panel forming step includes the steps of

forming a touch sensor switch in a display area of the liquid crystal panel to display an image,

forming a first liquid crystal orientation film on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

forming a second liquid crystal orientation film on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate,

the touch sensor switch forming step includes the steps of

forming a first touch electrode on the surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

forming a second touch electrode on the surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate to face and be spaced from the first touch electrode,

in the first touch electrode forming step, an under layer having a concave groove is provided on the first substrate, and the first touch electrode is formed on the under layer, and

in the first liquid crystal orientation film forming step, an application liquid containing an orientation material is applied onto the surface on which the first touch electrode is formed, the application liquid enters the concave groove, and the first liquid crystal orientation film is formed such that a top face of the first touch electrode is exposed while being not covered therewith.

18. A display device comprising:

a display panel which includes

a first substrate,

a second substrate arranged to be opposite and spaced from the first substrate, and

a built-in touch sensor switch provided in a display area to display an image,

wherein the touch sensor switch includes

a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

a second touch electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate to face and be spaced from the first touch electrode,

the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode come into contact with each other when the display panel is deformed by an external pressure, and

an under layer having a concave groove is provided between the first touch electrode and the first substrate, and when an application liquid is applied to the surface of the first touch electrode, the application liquid enters the concave groove, and the first touch electrode is formed such that a top face of the first touch electrode is exposed while being not covered with an application film.

19. An information input device comprising:

a touch panel which includes

a first substrate,

a second substrate arranged to be opposite and spaced from the first substrate, and

a touch sensor switch,

wherein the touch sensor switch includes

a first touch electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, and

a second touch electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate to face and be spaced from the first touch electrode,

the first touch electrode and the second touch electrode come into contact with each other when the touch panel is deformed by an external pressure, and

an under layer having a concave groove is provided between the first touch electrode and the first substrate, and when an application liquid is applied to the surface of the first touch electrode, the application liquid enters the concave groove, and the first touch electrode is formed such that a top face of the first touch electrode is exposed while being not covered with an application film.