DISPLAY APPARATUS AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120062448A1
• Filed: 04/18/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: LEE, Hee-Keun, CHOI, Nakcho, KIM, Yeun Tae, KWON, Pilsook, KIM, Sangil
• Granted Patent: US 9,846,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/55
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133377 Cells with plural compartments or having plurality of liquid crystal microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. one microcell per pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a plurality of pixel units and each pixel unit includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, an image display part and a protective layer. The first electrode is formed on the substrate. The second electrode is formed over the first electrode while interposing a first insulating layer therebetween to define a TSC (tunnel-shaped cavity) extending in a first direction between the first and second electrodes. The image display part is provided in the TSC to display an image according to an electric field generated by the first and second electrodes. The protective layer covers the second electrode and seals the TSC. The display apparatus having the above structure is manufactured by forming the first electrode, a sacrificial layer and the second electrode and forming the image display part by removing the sacrificial layer.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising a plurality of pixel units, each pixel unit comprises:

a substrate;

a first electrode formed on the substrate;

a second electrode formed over the first electrode while being insulated from the first electrode to define a TSC (tunnel-shaped cavity) extending in a first direction between the first and second electrodes;

an image display part provided in the TSC to display an image according to an electric field formed by the first and second electrodes; and

a protective layer that covers the second electrode and seals the TSC.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a black matrix provided on the second electrode, wherein the black matrix overlaps with both ends of the first electrode in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction when viewed in a plan view.

3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the black matrix comprises an extension portion that overlaps with both ends of the first electrode in the first direction.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image display part includes a liquid crystal material or an electrophoretic material.

5. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the image display part is the liquid crystal layer and the liquid crystal layer comprises a nematic liquid crystal, a blue-phase liquid crystal, or a cholesteric liquid crystal.

6. The display apparatus of claim 4, wherein the image display part is the liquid crystal layer and further comprises a first insulating layer covering the first electrode in the TSC and an alignment layer formed on the first insulating layer.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a polarizing plate provided on the protective layer.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a color filter provided between the second electrode and the protective layer.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a second insulating layer formed on the color filter to cover the color filter.

10. The display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a color filter formed between the substrate and the first electrode.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a third insulating layer formed on the second electrode to cover the second electrode.

12. A display apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

an electrode part including a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the substrate while being insulated from each other to generate an electric field;

an insulating layer formed over the electrode part to define a TSC (tunnel-shaped cavity) between the insulating layer and the electrode part;

an image display part provided in the TSC to display an image according to the electric field; and

a protective layer that covers the insulating layer and seals the TSC.

13. A method of manufacturing a display apparatus, the method comprising:

forming a first electrode on a substrate;

forming a sacrificial layer extending in a first direction on the first electrode;

forming a first insulating layer on the sacrificial layer in a second direction crossing the first direction;

forming a second electrode on the first insulating layer;

removing the sacrificial layer to form a TSC (tunnel-shaped cavity) between the first electrode and the first insulating layer;

forming an image display part inside an interior of the TSC; and

forming a protective layer to cover the second electrode and to seal the TSC.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sacrificial layer comprises an organic material and is selectively removed by microwave O₂ plasma.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

forming a color filter on the second electrode; and

forming a second insulating layer on the color filter.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

forming a color filter between the substrate and the first electrode.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

forming an alignment layer in the TSC after forming the TSC.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the forming of the alignment layer comprises:

providing an alignment liquid, which contains an alignment material mixed with a solvent, into the TSC; and

removing the solvent.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the image display part is formed by providing an image display material into the TSC through an inkjet scheme.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the protective layer comprises a polymer material comprising an adhesive.