LCD device with an alignment mark having same material as microlenses

• US 5,771,085 A
• Filed: 11/04/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Yasunori, Ichikawa, Hiroaki, Ochi, Tetsuro, Nishihara, Shizuo, Koike, Satofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ton, Toan
• Application Number:
  US08/740,903
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 349/95, 349/158, 349/110
• US Class Current: 349/158
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133354 Arrangements for aligning or assembling substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses

Abstract

To provide a liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof for preventing a drop in the pixel slot opening and focus rates due to poor alignment precision of the drive substrate and microlens which face each other, and for improving the focus rate and production efficiency. A lens group comprised of a plurality of microlenses is integrated into the opposing substrate. A second alignment mark is formed at the desired position within the display area on the opposing substrate. This second alignment mark is formed along grooves between numerous protrusions having a semi-circular shaped cross section so the outer contours of the face form a cross shape of a specific width. These protrusions are made of the same material (for instance transparent plastic) and shape (semi-circular cross section) as those of the microlens at the display area, forming a lens shape. The second alignment mark is made together and simultaneously with the forming of the microlens in such a way that there is no deviation between the second alignment mark and the microlens opposite it.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display device comprising:

a first substrate having a first alignment mark formed in a non-display area, and a display area including a pixel section comprised of a plurality of pixels; and

a second substrate having a lens array comprised of micro focus lenses corresponding to said pixel section, and a second alignment mark comprised of transparent material identical to the material for said micro focus lenses, and placed at a specified gap opposite said first substrate.

2. A liquid crystal display device of claim 1 wherein said second alignment mark, has one or more protrusions formed along with said micro focus lenses, on the surface of the second substrate.

3. A liquid crystal display device of claim 2 wherein said second alignment mark has a contour formed along the groove between the adjoining protrusions or along the edges of the protrusions on the surface of said second substrate.

4. A liquid crystal display device of claim 3 wherein the first alignment mark has a flat cross shaped contour, and the cross shaped contour of said second alignment mark has sections of specific widths along said grooves.

5. A liquid crystal display device of claim 3 wherein the flat shape of said first alignment mark has a cross shaped contour, the flat shaped second alignment mark is formed along the edges of a plurality of protrusions, and formed in a quadrangle to correspond to an area including the center and vicinity of the first alignment mark.

6. A liquid crystal display device of claim 4 wherein the flat shape of said second alignment mark has oblique lines whose lines extend towards the center of the four corners of the cross shape.

7. A liquid crystal display device of claim 5 characterized in that the flat shape of said second alignment mark has oblique lines whose phantom lines are directed towards the center of the four corners of the cross shape.

8. A liquid crystal display device of claim 3 wherein the flat shape of said first alignment mark has a cross shape at each section and the second alignment mark is formed in a cross shape made up of lines at each section by means of grooves between four protrusions placed at adjacent and mutually symmetrical positions at that flat shape.

9. A liquid crystal display device of claim 8 wherein slots are present at the center between the four protrusions, for direct viewing of the first alignment mark.

10. A liquid crystal display device of claim 9 wherein the slots are square or rhomboid type.

11. A liquid crystal display device of claim 1 wherein the first alignment mark and the second alignment mark are respectively provided in at least two locations in the non-display area of the first and second substrates.