Liquid crystal display apparatus with sealing element including conductive spacers

• US 6,392,735 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gold Charm Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tani, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG, DAVID Y
• Application Number:
  US09/671,160
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 349/155, 349/156, 349/38, 349/39, 349/106, 349/149, 349/152, 349/153
• US Class Current: 349/156
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133512 Light shielding layers, e.g. black matrix G02F1/136209 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• 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 1/136213 Storage capacitors associated with the pixel electrode

Abstract

In a liquid crystal display apparatus, a transfer electrode is formed on a first insulating substrate, and a columnar spacer and a counter electrode are formed on a second insulating substrate. A sealing element formed by seal material and conductive spacers adheres and seals the first and second insulating substrates, so that the counter electrode is in contact with the transfer electrode through the conductive spacers.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal display apparatus comprising:

first and second insulating substrates;

a transfer electrode formed on said first insulating substrate;

a first columnar spacer formed on said second insulating substrate;

a counter electrode comprising a projecting portion which is formed on said first columnar spacer;

a sealing element, comprising seal material and conductive spacers, for adhering and sealing said first and second insulating substrates, so that said projecting portion of said counter electrode is in contact with said transfer electrode through said conductive spacers.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first columnar spacer comprises color filter layers.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sealing element is provided at a periphery of said first and second insulating substrates.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second columnar spacer formed on a display area of said second insulating substrate; and

at least one insulating layer formed on said second columnar spacer,

said second columnar spacer and said insulating layer serving as a display spacer.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second columnar spacer comprises color filter layers.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said counter electrode is provided between said second columnar spacer and said insulating layer.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one second columnar spacer comprising an insulating layer formed on a display area of said second insulating substrate, said second columnar spacer serving as a display spacer.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second insulating substrates comprise one of an inorganic glass and an organic plastic.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an optical shield black matrix layer formed between said second insulating substrate and said first columnar structure,

wherein said first columnar spacer comprises a first color filter layer having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 μ

m, which is formed on said optical shield black matrix layer.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said first columnar spacer further comprises a second color filter layer having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 μ

m, which is formed on said first color filter layer.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first columnar spacer further comprises a third color filter layer having a thickness of about 0.5 to 2 μ

m, which is formed on said second color filter layer.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein an electrical resistance between said counter electrode and said transfer electrode is less than 5 Ω

.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first columnar spacer comprises a colorant and a resin.

8. A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display apparatus, comprising:

forming a transfer electrode on a first insulating substrate;

forming a first columnar spacer on a second insulating substrate;

forming a counter electrode on said first columnar spacer, so as to form a projecting portion of said counter electrode;

coating seal material including conductive spacers on a periphery of at least one of said first and second insulating substrates; and

adhering said first and second insulating substrates so that said projecting portion of said counter electrode is in contact with said transfer electrode through said conductive spacers, after said seal material is coated.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first columnar spacer comprises color filter layers.

10. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

forming at least one second columnar spacer on a display area of said second insulating substrate; and

forming at least one second columnar spacer on a display area of said second insulating substrate; and

forming at least one insulating layer formed on said second columnar spacer,

said second columnar spacer and said insulating layer serving as a display spacer.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second columnar spacer comprises color filter layers.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said counter electrode is provided between said second columnar spacer and said insulating layer.

13. The method as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

forming at least one second columnar spacer comprising an insulating layer on a display area of said second insulating substrate, said second columnar spacer serving as a display spacer.

14. A liquid crystal display comprising:

first and second insulating substrates;

a transfer electrode formed on said first insulating substrate;

a columnar spacer formed on said second insulating substrate;

a counter electrode comprising a projecting portion which is formed on said first columnar spacer; and

a sealing material comprising at least one conductive spacer, formed between said first and second substrates,

wherein said projecting portion of said counter electrode contacts said transfer electrode through said at least one conductive spacer.