Color liquid-crystal panel having a frame-shaped black matrix and manufacturing process therefor

• US 6,429,917 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vista Peak Ventures LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ihara, Hirofumi, Watanabe, Takahiko, Kikkawa, Hironori, Nakata, Shinichi, Sakamoto, Michiaki, Yamamoto, Yuji, Okamoto, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, TARIFUR RASHID
• Application Number:
  US09/513,758
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 349/106, 349/110, 349/111, 349/138, 349/122
• US Class Current: 349/110
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133509 Filters, e.g. light shielding masks
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136222 Colour filters incorporated in the active matrix substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136227 Through-hole connection of the pixel electrode to the active element through an insulation layer

Abstract

This invention provides a color liquid-crystal panel comprising the first substrate having pixel electrodes on which are formed a thin-film transistor as a switching element for each pixel, which is covered by a passivation film, and a color filter layer and a black matrix on the passivation film, which are covered by an overcoat layer, and where the first substrate and the second substrate having a transparent common electrode facing the first substrate are put together via a sealer, forming an inner space which is filled with a liquid-crystal material, wherein a frame-shaped black matrix is formed on the first substrate, covering the periphery of the first substrate.

Claims

1. A color liquid-crystal panel comprising a first substrate having pixel electrodes on which are formed a thin-film transistor as a switching element for each pixel, which is covered by a passivation film, and a color filter layer and a black matrix on the passivation film, which are covered by an overcoat layer, and where the first substrate and a second substrate having a transparent common electrode facing the first substrate are put together via a sealer, forming an inner space which is filled with a liquid-crystal material, wherein a frame-shaped black matrix covers a periphery of the first substrate, wherein in the area for a sealer in the periphery of the first substrate, the frame-shaped black matrix is formed on the first substrate over the passivation film, except the area from the substrate edge to at least a half of the width of the sealer.

2. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the area for a sealer in the periphery of the first substrate, the frame-shaped black matrix is formed on the first substrate over the passivation film, inside the area for the sealer.

3. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 2, where the sealer is applied directly to the passivation film of the first substrate.

4. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 3, where a frame-shaped black matrix is formed at least in contact with the area for a sealer in the second substrate.

5. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 2, where a frame-shaped black matrix is formed at least in contact with the area for a sealer in the second substrate.

6. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 1, where the first and the second substrates are put together via a sealer before cutting the second substrate, and the transparent common electrode on the second substrate is formed inside of the cutting plane in cutting the second substrate.

7. A color liquid-crystal panel comprising a first substrate having pixel electrodes on which are formed a thin-film transistor as a switching element for each pixel, which is covered by a passivation film, and a color filter layer and a black matrix on the passivation film, which are covered by an overcoat layer, and where the first substrate and a second substrate having a transparent common electrode facing the first substrate are put together via a sealer, forming an inner space which is filled with a liquid-crystal material, wherein a frame-shaped black matrix covers a periphery of the first substrate, where the frame-shaped black matrix is formed on the passivation film via a coupling-agent layer.

8. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 7, where the coupling agent is a silane surface treatment agent.

9. A color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 8 where the transparent common electrode on the second substrate is formed inside the area for a sealer.

10. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel, comprising the steps of

forming a plurality of thin-film transistors and interconnection layers on a first substrate;

depositing a passivation film over the whole surface of the first substrate, covering the thin-film transistors and the interconnection layers;

forming a black matrix at least over semiconductor layers of the thin-film transistors and on the periphery of the substrate in the shape of a frame;

forming a color filter layer;

forming an overcoat layer over the whole surface of the first substrate, covering the black matrix and the color filter layer;

forming a contact hole in the overcoat layer and forming a pixel electrode;

applying a sealer on a periphery of the thin-film transistor side of the first substrate;

putting together the first substrate and a second substrate comprising a transparent common electrode via a sealer in a manner that the transparent common electrode faces the thin-film transistor side of the first substrate with a space therebetween; and

injecting a liquid-crystal material into the space, wherein in the area for a sealer in the periphery of the first substrate, the black matrix is formed in the shape of a frame on the periphery of the first substrate, over the passivation film, except the area from the substrate edge to at least a half of the thickness of the sealer.

11. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the area for a sealer in the periphery of the first substrate, the black matrix is formed in the shape of a frame on the periphery of the first substrate, over the passivation film, inside the area for the sealer.

12. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 11, where the sealer is applied directly to the passivation film of the first substrate.

13. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 12, where a frame-shaped black matrix is formed at least in contact with the area for a sealer in the second substrate.

14. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 11, where a frame-shaped black matrix is formed at least in contact with the area for a sealer in the second substrate.

15. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel, comprising the steps of

forming a plurality of thin-film transistors and interconnection layers on a first substrate;

depositing a passivation film over the whole surface of the first substrate, covering the thin-film transistors and the interconnection layers;

forming a black matrix at least over semiconductor layers of the thin-film transistors and on the periphery of the substrate in the shape of a frame;

forming a color filter layer;

forming an overcoat layer over the whole surface of the first substrate, covering the black matrix and the color filter layer;

forming a contact hole in the overcoat layer and forming a pixel electrode;

applying a sealer on a periphery of the thin-film transistor side of the first substrate;

putting together the first substrate and a second substrate comprising a transparent common electrode via a sealer in a manner that the transparent common electrode faces the thin-film transistor side of the first substrate with a space therebetween; and

injecting a liquid-crystal material into the space, where the black matrix formed in the shape of a frame on the periphery of the first substrate is formed on the passivation film via a coupling-agent layer.

16. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 15, where the coupling agent is a silane surface treatment agent.

17. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel, comprising the steps of

forming a plurality of thin-film transistors and interconnection layers on a first substrate;

depositing a passivation film over the whole surface of the first substrate, covering the thin-film transistors and the interconnection layers;

forming a black matrix at least over semiconductor layers of the thin-film transistors and on the periphery of the substrate in the shape of a frame;

forming a color filter layer;

forming an overcoat layer over the whole surface of the first substrate, covering the black matrix and the color filter layer;

forming a contact hole in the overcoat layer and forming a pixel electrode;

applying a sealer on a periphery of the thin-film transistor side of the first substrate;

putting together the first substrate and a second substrate comprising a transparent common electrode via a sealer in a manner that the transparent common electrode faces the thin-film transistor side of the first substrate with a space therebetween; and

injecting a liquid-crystal material into the space, where the first and the second substrates are put together via a sealer before cutting the second substrate, and the transparent common electrode on the second substrate is formed inside of the cutting plane in cutting the second substrate.

18. A process for manufacturing a color liquid-crystal panel as claimed in claim 17, where the transparent common electrode on the second substrate is formed inside the area for a sealer.